•  •    BA1J.W  «»    •«•»»  »«•••».   •• 


'■.■;rt 


■■& 


IS? 


■ 


■B 


■ 


wm 


lOKife 


m 


■ 


0FE  OF  WM  TENNtiNT,    I 


wSnvWKt 


S 


II 


^■1 


J^. 


■raws 


Jft 


S% 


gi 


■it 


ad  775 


m-mJafc** 


n    9 


/ 


LIFE 


OF*  THE 


Rev.  WILLIAM    TENNENT, 

LATE  PASTOR  OF  THE  PRESBYTERIAN  CHURCH 
AT  FREEHOLD,  N.  J. 


BY  ELIAS  BOUDINOT,  LL.  D. 


IMPROVED  EDITION. 


^e^ 


TRENTON : 

Printed  and  Published  by  E.  B.  Adams. 

1833. 


TO   THE   READER. 


On  the  face  of  the  former  editions  of 
this  valuable  little  book,  no  other  ac- 
count of  its  authorship  is  given  than 
the  simple  statement,  that  it  was  "  ex- 
tracted  from  the  Evangelical  Intelli- 
gencer, for  the  year  1806."    Some  are 
even  less  explicit.     This  is  the  more 
remarkable  fram  the  fact  of  its  ac- 
knowledged excellence,  and  the  high 
favor  in  which  it  is  held  by  the  reli- 
gious world — many  large  editions  hav- 
ing been  sold,  and  the  demand  yet  re- 
maining unsatisfied.     The  Publisher  of 
the  present  edition  had  often  heard  the 
work  attributed  to  the  late  Dr.  Bou- 
dinot,  of  Burlington,  N.  J.,  for  many 
years  President  of  the  American  Bible 
Society,  whose  vigorous  intellect  and 


IV 


extensive  learning  were  equalled  only 
by  the  purity  of  his  life  and  his  fervid 
piety.  After  much  inquiry  the  Pub- 
lisher has  ascertained,  beyond  the  pos- 
sibility of  doubt,  that  this  sketch  of  Mr. 
Tennent's  life  was  not  improperly  as- 
cribed to  the  same  pen  that  produced 
the  "  Star  in  the  West."  In  proof  of 
this,  might  be  cited  the  testimony  of  a 
respectable  professional  gentleman  of 
this  city,  who  assisted  the  writer  in 
collecting  and  authenticating  the  facts 
embodied  in  this  Mapaoir.  The  au- 
thor's name  has  therefore  been  placed 
in  the  title  page. 
Trenton,  July  1833. 


LIFE 


OF   THE 


Rev.  WILLIAM  TENNENT. 


Among  the  duties  which  every  generation 
owes  to  those  which  are  to  succeed  it,  we  may 
reckon  the  careful  delineation  of  the  characters 
of  those  whose  example  deserves,  and  may  in- 
vite imitation.     Example  speaks  louder  than 
precept,  and   living  practical   religion   has  a 
much  greater  effect  on  mankind  than  argument 
or  eloquence. — Hence,  the  lives  of  pious  men 
become  the  most  important  sources  of  instruc- 
tion and  warning  to  posterity ;  while  their  ex- 
emplary conduct  affords  the  best  commentary 
on  the  religion  they  professed.   But  when  such 
men  have  been  remarkably  favored  of  God,  with 
unusual  degrees  of  light  and  knowledge,  and 
have  been  honored  by  the  special  and  extraor- 
dinary influences  of  his  Holy  Spirit,  and  by  the 
-r  manifest  and  wonderful  interpositions  of 


b  1  I  ¥  E     O  F     T  E  If  >'  E  **  T  . 

divine  Providence  in  their  behalf,  it  becomes  a 
duty  of  more  than  common  obligation,  to  hand 
down  to  posterity  the  principal  events  of  their 
lives,  together  with  such  useful  inferences  as 
they  naturally  suggest.  A  neglect  of  this  duty, 
even  by  persons  who  may  be  conscious  of  the 
want  of  abilities  necessary  for  the  complete  bi- 
ographer, is  greatly  culpable ;  for  if  the  strict- 
est attention  be  paid  to  the  truth  of  the  facts 
related,  and  all  exaggeration  or  partial  repre- 
sentation be  carefully  avoided,  the  want  of  other 
furniture  can  be  no  excuse  for  burying  in  obli- 
vion that  conduct,  which,  if  known,  might  edify 
and  benefit  the  world. 

The  writer  of  these  memoirs  has  difficulties 
of  a  peculiar  kind  to  encounter,  in  attempting 
to  sketch  the  life  of  that  modest,  humble,  and 
worthy  man,  whose  actions,  exercises,  and  sen- 
timents he  wishes  to  record.  Worldly  men, 
who  are  emulous  to  transmit  their  names  to 
following  ages,  take  care  to  leave  such  materi- 
als for  the  future  historian,  as  may  secure  the 
celebrity  which  they  seek.  But  the  humble  fol- 
lower of  the  meek  and  lowly  Jesus,  whose  sole 
aim  is  the  glory  of  God,  in  the  welfare  of  im- 
mortal souls,  goes  on,  from  day  to  day,  as  see- 
ino-  Him  who  is  invisible,  careful  to  approve 


XIFE     OF     TKNNENT.  / 

himself  only  to  the  Searcher  of  hearts,  regard- 
less of  worldly  fame  or  distinction,  and  leaving 
it  to  his  heavenly  Father  to  reward  him  openly, 
in  the  day  of  final  account.  The  writer  of  such 
a  man's  life  must  principally  rely  on  a  personal 
acquaintance  with  him,  and  the  communications 
of  his  intimate  friends,  for  the  information  which 
shall  be  imparted  to  the  public.  In  these  cir- 
cumstances, it  is  peculiarly  embarrassing  if 
some  of  the  facts  to  be  recorded  are  of  such  a 
nature,  that  it  is  most  desirable  to  have  their 
authenticity  so  fully  established,  that  incredu- 
lity shall  be  confounded,  and  the  sneer  of  the 
sceptical  and  profane  lose  its  effect.  But  the 
writer  of  the  following  narrative,  though  placed 
in  these  circumstances,  and  having  such  facts 
to  detail,  has  nevertheless  determined  to  pro- 
ceed. He  has  refreshed  and  corrected  his  own 
recollection,  by  the  most  careful  inquiries  that 
he  could  possibly  make  of  others,  until  he  is 
well  assured,  that  what  he  shall  state  is  incon- 
testable truth.  From  the  very  nature  of  several 
things  of  which  an  account  will  be  given,  they 
do  not,  indeed,  admit  of  any  other  direct  testi- 
mony than  that  of  the  remarkable  man  to  whom 
they  relate.  But  if  there  ever  was  a  person  who 
deserved  to  be  believed  unreservedly  on  his  own 


LIFE     OF     TEIfJfENT, 


word,  it  was  he.  He  possessed  an  integrity  of 
soul  and  a  soundness  of  judgment,  which  did 
actually  secure  him  an  unlimited  confidence 
from  all  who  knew  him.  Every  species  of  de- 
ception, falsehood,  and  exaggeration,  he  abhor- 
red and  scorned.  He  was  an  Israelite,  indeed, 
in  whom  there  was  no  guile.— With  such  ma- 
terials, then,  as  have  been  mentioned,  and  for  a 
work  of  such  character  as  has  been  hinted,  the 
writer  has  undertaken  his  task.  He  has  under- 
taken what  he  would  most  gladly  have  resigned 
to  an  abler  hand;  but  from  which,  as  no  other 
offered,  he  dared  not  withhold  his  own.  He 
could  wish  that  speculative,  and  even  unbeliev- 
ing minds  might  be  instructed  and  convinced 
by  these  memoirs.  But  his  principal  object,  and 
that  in  which  he  trusts  he  shall  not  be  entirely 
disappointed,  is  to  direct,  assist,  and  comfort  pi- 
ous souls,  groaning  under  the  pressure  of  the 
calamities  which  they  often  have  to  endure  in 
their  pilgrimage  through  the  wilderness  of  this 
world. 

The  late  Rev.  William  Tennent,  of  Free- 
hold, in  the  county  of  Monmouth,  in  the  state 
of  New  Jersey,  of  whom  we  write,  was  the  se- 
cond son  of  the  Rev.  William  Tennent,  minis- 
ter of  the  gospel  at  Neshaminy,  in  Bucks  county, 


LIFE     OF     TENNEKT. 


m  the  state  of  Pennsylvania.  This  last  gentle- 
man was  originally  a  minister  of  the  church  of 
England,  in  the  then  kingdom  of  Ireland,  where 
he  was  born  and  received  his  education.  He 
was  chaplain  to  an  Irish  nobleman,  but  being 
conscientiously  scrupulous  of  conforming  to  the 
terms  imposed  on  the  clergy  of  that  kingdom, 
he  was  deprived  of  his  living.  He  now  became 
acquainted  with  the  famous  Gilbert  Kennedy, 

of a  Presbyterian  minister,  who  had 

also  been  persecuted  for  his  religious  principles, 
and  soon  after  married  his  daughter.  Finding 
it  difficult  to  continue  at  home  with  any  satis- 
factory degree  of  usefulness,  and  his  family  in- 
creasing, after  a  few  years  he  determined  to 
emigrate  to  America,  where  he  was  encouraged 
to  hope  for  a  greater  liberty  of  conscience,  as 
well  as  the  prospect  of  being  employed  in  ex- 
tending the  Redeemer's  kingdom  in  that  new 
world.  He  arrived  at  Philadelphia  in  the  sum- 
mer of  1718,  with  his  wife,  four  sons,  and  one 
daughter.  His  sons  were,  Gilbert,  who  was  af- 
terwards the  pastor  of  the  second  Presbyterian 
church  in  Philadelphia;  William,  the  subject  of 
these  memoirs;  John,  who  became  pastor,  of 
the  church  at  Freehold,  and  died  at  the  age  of 
twenty-five  years;  and  Charles,  afterwards  mi- 


10  IIFE     OF     TEU5XlfT. 

nisterof  the  Presbyterian  church  at  Whiteclay 
creek,  whence  he  removed  to  Buckingham,  in 
Maryland. 

William  Tennent,  the  father,  on  his  first 
coming  to  America,  settled  at  East  Chester,  in 
the  then  province  of  New  York,  and  afterwards 
removed  to  Bedford.  In  a  short  time,  he  was 
called  to  Bucks  county,  in  Pennsylvania,  and 
preached  at  Bensalem  and  Smithfield ;  but  soon 
after  settled  permanently  at  Neshaminy,  in  the 
same  county.  Being  skilled  in  the  Latin  lan- 
guage, so  as  to  speak  and  write  it  almost  as  well 
as  his  mother  tongue;  a  qfcod  proficient,  also,  in 
the  other  learned  languages,  and  well  read  in 
divinity,  he  determined  to  set  up  a  school  for 
the  instruction  of  youth,  particularly  of  those 
designed  for  the  gospel  ministry,  as  the  be6t 
service  he  could  render  to  God  and  his  new 
adopted  country ;  education  being  then  at  a  very 
low  ebb.  There  appeared,  in  his  apprehension, 
a  very  large  field  for  the  propagation  of  the  gos- 
pel, could  a  sufficient  number  of  faithful  laborers 
be  found  for  so  great  a  harvest.  A  learned  mi- 
nistry, he  well  knew,  was  necessary  to  the  sure 
foundation  of  the  church  of  Christ,  especially 
in  a  new  country,  so  peculiarly  exposed  to  every 
invader,  and  where  the  enemy  might  60  sue- 


I,  I  F  E     OF     TEW  KENT 


11 


cessfully  sow  tares  among  the  wheat.  In  pur- 
suance of  this  design,  he  established  an  acade- 
my, and  built  a  house,  since  known  by  the  name 
of  the  log  college. 

Soon  after  his  arrival  in  Bucks  county,  on  full 
consideration,  he  left  the  church  of  England, 
and,  to  enlarge  his  sphere  of  usefulness,  deter- 
mined to  join  the  Presbyterian  church.  Accord- 
ingly, he  applied  to  the  synod  of  Philadelphia 
for  admission  into  their  communion,  and,  on  due 
examination,  and  complying  with  their  stated 
rules,  he  was  very  cordially  received.  At  the 
first  meeting  of  the  ayttod  afterwards,  he  ad- 
dressed that  venerable  body,  in  an  elegant  La- 
tin oration,  which  added  greatly  to  his  celebrity, 
and  increased  the  hopes  of  his  friends  as  to  the 
success  of  the  institution  he  had  founded.  To 
erect  and  support  such  an  important  seminary 
of  learning,  out  of  his  own  private  purse,  at  that 
early  period,  in  a  new  country  just  rising  from 
a  savage  wilderness,  and  to  devote  himself  to 
so  severe  a  service,  in  addition  to  his  pastoral 
charge,  was  a  boon  to  his  generation,  that  at 
this  day  cannot  be  easily  nor  sufficiently  appre- 
ciated. 

His  expectations,  in  a  few  years,  were  more 
than  realized.    In  this  institution,  the  principal 


12  LIFE     OF     TIX5EST, 

men  of  the  day,  and  many  of  the  Presbyterian 
clergy  were  educated,  and  added  greatly  to  the 
increase  and  usefulness  of  tbeir  churches.  The 
late  Rev.  Messrs.  Rowland,'  Campbell,  Law- 
rence, Beatty,  Robinson,  and  Samuel  Blair, 
with  many  others,  were  among  the  number  of 
his  pupils,  and  thought  themselves  honored  by 
being  considered  as  sons  of  this  humble  semi- 
nary. Here,  also,  his  own  four  sons  received 
their  education,  and  were  prepared  for  their  im- 
portant services.  Had  these  been  the  only  fruits 
of  that  infant  academy,  America  would  have 
reason  to  rejoice,  and  to  render  thanks  to  that 
God  who  directed  this  gentleman  to  visit  her 
shores. 

His  second  son,  William,  who  is  the  subject 
of  these  sketches,  was  born  on  the  3d  day  of 
June,  1705,  in  the  county  of  Antrim,  in  Ireland, 
and  was  just  turned  of  thirteen  years  when  he 
arrived  in  America.  He  applied  himself,  with 
much  zeal  and  industry,  to  his  studies,  and  made 
great  proficiency  in  the  languages,  particularly 
in  the  Latin.  Being  early  impressed  with  a 
deep  sense  of  divine  things,  he  soon  determined 
to  follow  the  example  of  his  father  and  elder 
brother,  by  devoting  himself  to  the  service  of 
God  in  the  ministry  of  the  gospel.    His  brother 


LIFE     OF     TENNENT 


13 


Gilbert  being  called  to  the  pastoral  charge  of 
the  church  at  New  Brunswick,  in  New  Jersey, 
and  making  a  very  considerable  figure  as  a  use- 
ful and  popular  preacher,  William  determined, 
as  he  had  completed  his  course  in  the  languages, 
to  study  divinity  under  his  brother.  According- 
ly, he  left  his  father's  house,  with  his  consent, 
and  by  his  advice,  and  went  to  New  Brunswick. 
At  his  departure  from  home,  which  was  consi- 
dered as  his  setting  out  in  life,  his  father  ad- 
dressed him  with  great  affection,  commending 
him  to  the  favor  and  protection  of  that  God  from 
whom  he.  himself  had  received  so  much  mercy, 
and  who  had  directed  him  in  all  his  migrations. 
He  gave  him  a  small  sum  of  money,  as  the 
amount  of  all  he  could  do  for  him,  telling  him 
that  if  he  behaved  well  and  did  his  duty,  this 
was  an  ample  provision  for  him;  and  if  he  should 
act  otherwise,  and  prove  ungrateful  to  a  kind 
and  gracious  God,  it  was  too  much,  and  more 
than  he  deserved.  Thus,  with  a  pittance,  and 
the  blessing  of  a  pious  and  affectionate  parent, 
of  more  consequence  than  thousands  of  pounds, 
the  young  student  set  out  in  the  world. 

After  a  regular  course  of  study  in  theology, 
Mr.  Tennent  was  preparing  for  his  examination 
by  the  Presbytery,  as  a  candidate  for  the  gospel 


14  LIFE     OF     TE\HEJTT. 

ministry.  His  intense  application  affected  his 
health,  and  brought  on  a  pain  in  his  breast  and 
a  slight  hectic.  He  soon  became  emaciated,  and 
at  length  was  like  a  living  skeleton.  His  life 
was  now  .threatened.  He  was  attended  by  a 
physician,  a  young  man  who  was  attached  to 
him  by  the  strictest  and  warmest  friendship. 
He  grew  worse  and  worse,  till  little  hope  of  life 
was  left.  In  this  situation,  his  spirits  failed  him, 
and  he  began  to  entertain  doubts  of  his  final 
happiness.  He  was  conversing  one  morning 
with  his  brother,  in  Latin,  on  the  state  of  his 
soul,  when  he  fainted  and  died  away.  After  the 
usual  time,  he  was  laid  out  on  a  board,  accord- 
ing to  the  common  practice  of  the  country,  and 
the  neighborhood  were  invited  to  attend  his  fu- 
neral on  the  next  day.  In  the  evening,  his  phy- 
sician and  friend  returned  from  a  ride  into  the 
country,  and  was  afflicted  beyond  measure  at 
the  news  of  his  death.  He  could  not  be  per- 
suaded that  it  was  certain ;  and  on  being  told 
that  one  of  the  persons  who  had  assisted  in  lay- 
ing out  the  body,  thought  he  had  observed  a  lit- 
tle tremor  of  the  flesh  under  the  arm,  although 
the  body  was  cold  and  stiff,  he  endeavored  to 
ascertain  the  fact.  He  first  put  his  own  hand 
into  warm  water,  to  make  it  as  sensible  as  pos» 


LIFE      OF     TESSUTi 


15 


sible,  and  then  felt  under  the  arm,  and  at  the 
heart,  and  affirmed  that  he  felt  an  unusual 
warmth,  though  no  one  else  could.  He  had  the 
body  restored  to  a  warm  bed,  and  insisted  that 
the  people  who  had  been  invited  to  the  funeral, 
should  be  requested  not  to  attend.  To  this  the 
brother  objected  as  absurd,  the  eyes  being  sunk, 
the  lips  discolored,  and  the  whole  body  cold  and 
stiff.  However,  the  doctor  finally  prevailed,  and 
all  probable  means  were  used  to  discover  symp- 
toms of  returning  life.  But  the  third  day  ar- 
rived, and  no  hopes  were  entertained  of  success 
but  by  the  doctor,  who  never  left  him  night  nor 
day.  The  people  were  again  invited,  and  as- 
sembled to  attend  the  funeral.  The  doctor  still 
objected,  and  at  last  confined  his  request  for 
delay  to  one  hour — then  to  half  an  hour — and, 
finally,  to  a  quarter  of  an  hour.  He  had  disco- 
vered that  the  tongue  was  much  swollen,  and 
threatened  to  crack.  He  was  endeavoring  to 
soften  it  by  some  emollient  ointment,  put  upon 
it  with  a  feather,  when  the  brother  came  in, 
about  the  expiration  of  the  last  period,  and,  mis- 
taking what  the  doctor  was  doing  for  an  attempt 
to  feed  him,  manifested  some  resentment,  and, 
in  a  spirited  tone,  said,  "  It  is  shameful  to  be 
feeding  a  lifeless  corpse;"  and  insisted,  with 


16  XIFE     OF     TEKNENT. 

earnestness,  that  the  funeral  should  immedi- 
ately proceed.    At  this  critical  and  important 
moment,  the  body,  to  the  great  alarm  and  asto- 
nishment of  all  present,  opened  its  eyes,  gave  a 
dreadful  groan,  and  sunk  again  into  apparent 
death.  This  put  an  end  to  all  thoughts  of  bury- 
ing him,  and  every  effort  was  again  employed, 
in  hopes  of  bringing  about  a  speedy  resuscita- 
tion.   In  about  an  hour,  the  eyes  again  opened, 
a  heavy  groan  proceeded  from  the  body,  and 
again  all  appearance  of  animation  vanished.  In 
another  hour,  life  seemed  to  return  with  more 
power,  and  a  complete  revival  took  place,  to 
the  great  joy  of  the  family  and  friends,  and  to 
the  no  small  astonishment  and  conviction  of 
very  many  who  had  been  ridiculing  the  idea 
of  restoring  to  life  a  dead  body. 

Mr.  Tennent  continued  in  so  weak  and  low 
a  state,  for  six  weeks,  that  great  doubts  were 
entertained  of  his  final  recovery.  However,  af- 
ter that  period,  he  recovered  much  faster,  but 
it  was  about  twelve  months  before  he  was  com- 
pletely restored.  After  he  was  able  to  walk  the 
room,  and  to  take  notice  of  what  passed  around 
him,  on  a  Sunday  afternoon,  his  sister,  who  had 
staid  from  church  to  attend  him,  was  reading  in 
the  Bible,  when  he  took  notice  of  it,  and  asked 


LIFE     OF     1ENNEST.  17 

her  what  she  had  in  her  hand.  She  answered, 
that  she  was  reading  the  Bible.  He  replied, 
"  What  is  the  Bible  5  I  know  not  what  you 
mean."  This  affected  the  sister  so  much,  that 
she  burst  into  tears,  and  informed  him  that  he 
was  once  well  acquainted  with  it.  On  her  re- 
porting this  to  the  brother,  when  he  returned, 
Mr.  Tennent  was  found,  upon  examination,  to 
be  totally  ignorant  of  every  transaction  of  his 
life  previous  to  his  sickness.  He  could  not  read 
a  single  word,  neither  did  he  seem  to  have  any 
idea  of  what  it  meant.  As  soon  as  he  became 
capable  of  attention,  he  was  taught  to  read  and 
write,  as  children  are  usually  taught,  and  after- 
wards began  to  learn  the  Latin  language,  under 
the  tuition  of  his  brother.  One  day,  as  he  was 
reciting  a  lesson  in  Cornelius  Nepos,  he  sud- 
denly started,  clapped  his  hand  to  his  head,  as 
if  something  had  hurt  him,  and  made  a  pause. 
His  brother  asking  him,  what  was  the  matter, 

fhe  said,  that  he  felt  a  sudden  shock  in  his  head, 
and  it  now  seemed  to  him  as  if  he  had  read  that 
book  before.  By  degrees,  his  recollection  was 
restored,  and  he  could  speak  the  Latin  as  flu- 
ently as  before  his  sickness.  His  memory  so 
completely  revived,  that  he  gained  a  perfect 
knowledge  of  the  past  transactions  of  his  life, 

B 


18  LIFE     OF     TISKINT. 

as  if  no  difficulty  had  previously  occurred.  This 
event,  at  the  time,  made  a  considerable  noise, 
and  afforded  not  only  matter  of  serious  contem- 
plation to  the  devout  christian,  especially  when 
connected  with  what  follows  in  this  narration, 
but  furnished  a  subject  of  deep  investigation 
and  learned  inquiry  to  the  real  philosopher  and 
curious  anatomist. 

The  writer  of  these  memoirs  was  greatly  in- 
terested by  these  uncommon  events;  and,  on  a 
favorable  occasion,  earnestly  pressed  Mr.  Ten- 
nent  for  a  minute  account  of  what  his  views 
and  apprehensions  were,  while  he  lay  in  this 
extraordinary  state  of  suspended  animation.  He 
discovered  great  reluctance  to  enter  into  any 
explanation  of  his  perceptions  and  feelings  at 
this  time ;  but,  being  importunately  urged  to  do 
it,  he  at  length  consented,  and  proceeded  with 
a  solemnity  not  to  be  described. 

"  While  I  was  conversing  with  my  brother," 
said  he,  "on  the  state  of  my  soul,  and  the  fear 
I  had  entertained  for  my  future  welfare,  I  foun 
myself,  in  an  instant,  in  another  state  of  exist- 
ence, under  the  direction  of  a  superior  Being, 
who  ordered  me  to  follow  him.  I  was  accord- 
ingly wafted  along,  I  know  not  how,  till  I  be- 
held at  a  distance  an  ineffable  glory,  the  irn- 


i 


LIFE     OF     TUfNIXT  19 

pression  of  which  on  my  mind,  it  is  impossible 
to  communicate  to  mortal  man.  I  immediately 
reflected  on  my  happy  change,  and  thought — 
Well,  blessed  be  God  !  I  am  safe  at  last,  not- 
withstanding all  my  fears.  I  saw  an  innumera- 
ble host  of  happy  beings,  surrounding  the  inex- 
pressible glory,  in  acts  of  adoration  and  joyous 
worship;  but  I  did  not  see  any  bodily  shape  or 
representation  in  the  glorious  appearance.  I 
heard  things  unutterable.  I  heard  their  songs 
and  hallelujahs,  of  thanksgiving  and  praise, 
with  unspeakable  rapture.  I  felt  joy  unutter- 
able and  full  of  glory.  I  then  applied  to  my 
conductor,  and  requested  leave  to  join  the  happy 
throng;  on  which  he  tapped  me  on  the  shoulder, 
and  said,  '  You  must  return  to  the  earth.'  This 
seemed  like  a  sword  through  my  heart.  In  an 
instant  I  recollect  to  have  seen  my  brother 
standing  before  me,  disputing  with  the  doctor. 
The  three  days  during  which  I  had  appeared 
lifeless,  seemed  to  me  not  more  than  ten  or 
twenty  minutes.  The  idea  of  returning  to  this 
world  of  sorrow  and  trouble  gave  me  such  a 
shock,  that  I  fainted  repeatedly,"  He  added, 
"  Such  was  the  effect  on  my  mind  of  what  I 
had  seen  and  heard,  that  if  it  be  possible  for  a 
human  being  to  live  entirely  above  the  world, 


\ 


20  LIFEOFTIXUENT. 

and  the  things  of  it,  for  some  time  afterwards  I 
was  that  person.  The  ravishing  sounds  of  the 
songs  and  hallelujahs  that  I  heard,  and  the  very 
words  that  were  uttered,  were  not  out  of  my 
ears,  when  awake,  for  at  least  three  years.  All 
the  kingdoms  of  the  earth  were,  in  my  sight,  as 
nothing  and  vanity ;  and  so  great  were  my  ideas 
of  heavenly  glory,  that  nothing  which  did  not 
in  some  measure  relate  to  it,  could  command 
my  serious  attention."* 

*  The  author  has  been  particularly  solicitous  to 
obtain  every  confirmation  of  this  extraordinary 
event  in  the  life  of  Mr.  Tennent.  He,  accordingly, 
wrote  to  every  person  he  could  think  of,  likely  to 
have  conversed  with  Mr.  T.  on  the  subject.  He 
received  several  answers ;  but  the  following  letter, 
from  the  worthy  successor  of  Mr.  Tennent,  in  the 
pastoral  charge  of  his  church,  will  answer  for  the 
author's  purpose. 

Monmouth,  J\\  J.,  December  10,  1805. 
Dear  sir — Agreeably  to  your  request,  I  now 
send  you,  in  writing,  the  remarkable  account  which 
I  some  time  since  gave  you  verbally,  respecting 
your  good  friend,  my  worthy  predecessor,  the  late 
Rev.  William  Tennent,  of  this  place.  In  a  very 
free  and  feeling  conversation  on  religion,  and  on 
the  future  rest  and  blessedness  of  the  people  of 
God,  (while  travelling  together  from  Monmouth 
to  Princeton)  I  mentioned  to  Mr.  Tennent  that  I 


LIFE     OF     TEN  KENT.  21 

It  is  not  surprising,  that  after  so  affecting  an 
account,  strong  solicitude  should  have  been  felt 
for  farther  information  as  to  the  words,  or,  at 

should  be  highly  gratified  in  hearing,  from  his 
own  mouth,  an  account  of  the  trance  which  he 
was  said  to  have  been  in,  unless  the  relation  would 
be  disagreeable  to  himself.    After  a  short  silence, 
he  proceeded,  saying,  that  he  had  been  sick  with  a 
fever ;  that  the  fever  increased,  and  he,-  by  degrees, 
sunk  under  it.  After  some  time,  (as  his  friends  in- 
formed him)  he  died,  or  appeared  to  die,  in  the 
same  manner  as  persons  usually  do ;  that  in  lay- 
ing him  out,  one  happened  to  draw  his  hand  under 
the  left  arm,  and  perceived  a  small  tremor  in  the 
flesh;  that  he  was  laid  out,  and  was  cold  and  stiff. 
The  time  for  his  funeral  was  appointed,  and  the 
people  collected ;  but  a  young  doctor,  his  particu- 
lar friend,  pleaded  with  great  earnestness  that  he 
might  not  then  be  buried,  as  the  tremor  under  the 
arm  continued ;  that  his  brother,  Gilbert,  became 
impatient  with  the  young  gentleman,  and  said  to 
him,  "  What !  a  man  not  dead  who  is  cold  and 
stiff  as  a  stake!"  The  importunate  young  friend, 
however,  prevailed ; — another  day  was  appointed 
for  the  burial,  and  the  people  separated.    During 
this  interval,  many  means  were  made  use  of  to 
discover,  if  possible,  some  symptoms  of  life;  but 
none  appeared,  excepting  the  tremor.    The  doctor 
never  left  him  for  three  nights  and  three  days. 
The  people  again  met  to  bury  him,  but  could  not, 
even  then,  obtain  the  consent  of  his  friend,  who 
pleaded  for  one  hour  more ;  and  when  that  was 


12 


LIFE     OF     TU'5IS'T 


ieast,  the  subjects  of  praise  and  adoration,  which 
Mr.  Tennent  had  heard.  But  when  he  was  re- 
quested to  communicate  these,  he  gave  a  de- 
gone,  he  pleaded  for  half  an  hour,  and  then  for  a 
quarter  of  an  hour;  when,  just  at  the  close  of  this 
period,  on  which  hung  his  last  hope,  Mr.  Tennent 
opened  his  eyes.  They  then  pried  open  his  mouth, 
which  was  stiff,  so-  as  to  get  a  quill  into  it,  through 
which  some  liquid  was  conveyed  into  the  stomach, 
and  he,  by  degrees,  recovered. 

This  account,  as  intimated  before,  Mr.  Tennent 
said  he  had  received  from  his  friends.  I  said  to 
him,  "  Sir,  you  seem  to  be  one,  indeed,  raised  from 
the  dead,  and  may  tell  us  what  it  is  to  die,  and 
what  you  were  sensible  of  while  in  that  state." 
He  replied,  in  the  following  words:  "  As  to  dying 
— I  found  my  fever  increase,  and  I  became  weaker 
and  weaker,  until,  all  at  once,  I  found  myself  in 
heaven,  as  I  thought,  1  saw  no  shape  as  to  the 
Deity,  but  glory  all  unutterable .'"  Here  he 
paused,  as  though  unable  to  find  words  to  express 
his  views,  let  his  bridle  fall,  and,  lifting  up  his 
hands,  proceeded,  "  I  can  say,  as  St.  P^iul  did,  I 
heard  and  saw  things  all  unutterable !  I  saw  a 
great  multitude  before  this  glory,  apparently  in 
the  height  of  bliss,  singing  most  melodiously.  I 
was  transported  with  my  own  situation,  viewing 
all  my  troubles  ended,  and  my  rest  and  glory  be- 
gun, and  was  about  to  join  the  great  and  happy 
multitude,  when  one  came  to  me,  looked  me  full 
in  the  face,  laid  his  hand  upon  my  shoulder,  and 
said,    '  You  must  go  back.'    These  words  went 


LIFEOFTEXNENT.  |« 

eided  negative,  adding-,  "  You  will  know  them, 
with  many  other  particulars,  hereafter,  as  you 
will  find  the  whole  among  my  papers ;"  allud- 
ing to  his  intention  of  leaving  the  writer  hereof 

through  me ;  nothing  could  have  shocked  me  more ; 
I  cried  out,  '  Lord,  must  I  go  back!'  With  this 
shock,  I  opened  my  eyes  in  this  world.  When  I 
saw  I  was  in  the  world,  I  fainted — then  came  to— 
and  fainted  for  several  times,  as  one  probably 
would  naturally  have  done  in  so  weak  a  situation." 
Mr.  Tennent  further  informed  me,  that  he  had 
so  entirely  lost  the  recollection  of  his  past  life,  and 
the  benefit  of  his  former  studies,  that  he  could  nei- 
ther understand  what  was  spoken  to  him,  nor 
write,  nor  read  his  own  name — that  he  had  to  be- 
gin all  anew,  and  did  not  recollect  that  he  had  ever 
read  before,  until  he  had  again  learned  his  letters, 
and  was  able  to  pronounce  the  monosyllables,  such 
as  thee  and  thou  ;  but,  that  as  his  strength  returned, 
which  was  very  slowly,  his  memory  also  returned. 
Yet,  notwithstanding  the  extreme  feebleness  of  his 
situation,  his  recollection  of  what  he  saw  and  heard 
while  in  heaven,  as  he  supposed,  and  the  sense  of 
divine  things  which  he  there  obtained,  continued 
all  the  time  in  their  full  strength,  so  that  he  was 
continually  in  something  like  an  ecstacy  of  mind. 
"And,"  said  he,  "  for  three  years,  the  sense  of  di- 
vine things  continued  so  great,  and  every  thing 
else  appeared  so  completely  vain,  when  compared 
to  heaven,  that  could  I  have  had  the  world  for 
stooping  down  for  it,  I  believe  I  should  not  have 
thought  of  doing  it." 


24  LIFE     OF     TEXNfiJTT, 

his  executor,  which  precluded  any  further  soil* 
citation.* 

The  pious  and  eandid  reader  is  left  to  his  own 
reflections  on  this  very  extraordinary  occur* 
rence.  The  facts  have  been  stated,  and  they 
are  unquestionable.  The  writer  will  only  ask, 
whether  it  be  contrary  to  revealed  truth,  or  to 
reason,  to  believe,  that  in  every  age  of  the 
world  instances  like  that  which  is  here  recorded 
have  occurred,  to  furnish  living  testimony  of 
the  reality  of  the  invisible  world,  and  of  the  in- 
finite importance  of  eternal  concerns.9 

*  It  was  so  ordered,  in  the  course  of  divine  Pro- 
vidence, that  the  writer  was  sorely  disappointed 
in  his  expectation  of  obtaining  the  papers  here  al- 
luded to.  Such,  however,  was  the  will  of  heaven ! 
Mr.  Tennent's  death  happened  during  the  revolu- 
tionary war,  when  the  enemy  separated  the  writer 
from  him,  so  as  to  render  it  impracticable  to  attend 
him  on  a  dying  bed;  and  before  it  was  possible  to 
get  to  his  house,  after  his  death,  (the  writer  being 
with  the  American  army  at  Valley  Forge)  his  son 
came  from  Charleston,  and  took  his  mother,  and 
his  father's  papers  and  property,  and  returned  to 
Carolina.  About  fifty  miles  from  Charleston,  the 
son  was  suddenly  taken  sick,  and  died  among  en- 
tire strangers ;  and  never  since,  though  the  writer 
was  left  executor  to  the  son,  could  any  trace  of  the 
father's  papers  be  discovered  by  him. 


LIFE     OF     TENKE5fT. 


25 


As  soon  as  circumstances  would  permit,  Mr. 
Tennent  was  licensed,  and  began  to  preach  the 
everlasting  gospel  with  great  zeal  and  success. 
The  death  of  his  brother  John,*  who  had  been 
some  time  settled  as  minister  of  the  Presbyte- 
rian church  at  Freehold,  in  the  county  of  Mon- 
mouth, New  Jersey,  left  that  congregation  in  a 
destitute  state.  They  had  experienced  so  much 
spiritual  benefit  from  the  indefatigable  labors 
and  pious  zeal  of  this  able  minister  of  Jesus 
Christ,  that  they  soon  turned  their  attention  to 
his  brother,  who  was  received  on  trial,  and,  af- 
ter one  year,  was  found  to  be  no  unworthy  suc- 
cessor to  so  excellent  a  predecessor.  In  Octo- 
ber, 1773,  Mr.  Tennent  was  regularly  ordained 
their  pastor,  and  continued  so  through  the  whole 

*  The  following  entry  in  the  records  of  the 
church  at  Freehold,  shows  the  opinion  of  that 
church,  with  regard  to  Mr.  John  Tennent's  use- 
fulness. 

"Lord's  day,  April  23,  1732.-- -The  Reverend 
and  dear  Mr.  John  Tennent  departed  this  life  be- 
tween eight  and  nine  o'clock  this  morning.  A 
mournful  providence,  and  cause  of  great  humilia- 
tion to  this  poor  congregation,  to  be  bereaved,  in 
the  flower  of  youth,  of  the  most  laborious,  success- 
ful, well  qualified,  pious  pastor  this  age  has  afforded, 
though  but  a  youth  of  25  years,  5  months,  and  1 1 
days  of  age." 

C 


26  LIFE     OF     TENSEST. 

of  a  pretty  long  life — one  of  the  best  proofs  of 
ministerial  fidelity. 

Although  his  salary  was  small,  (it  is  thought 
under  one  hundred  pounds)  yet  the  glebe  be- 
longing to  the  church  was  an  excellent  planta- 
tion, on  which  he  lived,  and  which,  with  care 
and  good  farming,  was  capable  of  maintaining  a 
family  with  comfort.  But  his  inattention  to 
the  things  of  this  world  was  so  great,  that  he 
left  the  management  of  his  temporal  concerns 
wholly  to  a  faithful  servant,  in  whom  he  placed 
great  confidence.  After  a  short  time,  he  found 
his  worldly  affairs  were  becoming  embarrassed. 
His  steward  reported  to  him,  that  he  was  in 
debt  to  the  merchant  between  twenty  and 
thirty  pounds,  and  he  knew  of  no  means  of  pay- 
ment, as  the  crops  had  fallen  short.  Mr.  Ten- 
ncnt  mentioned  this  to  an  intimate  friend,  a 
merchant  of  New  York,  who  was  on  a  visit  at 
his  house.  His  friend  told  him  that  this  mode  of 
life  would  not  do ;  that  he  must  get  a  wife  to 
attend  to  his  temporal  affairs,  and  to  comfort  his 
leisure  hours  by  conjugal  endearments.  He 
smiled  at  the  idea,  and  assured  him,  it  never 
would  be  the  case,  unless  some  friend  would 
provide  one  for  him,  for  he  knew  not  how  to  go 
about  it.    His  friend  told  him  he  was  ready  to 


LIFE     OF     T  E  N  N  E  N  T'«  27 

undertake  the  business ;  that  he  had  a  sister-in- 
law,  one  peculiarly  suited,  in  all  respects,  to  his 
character  and  circumstances :  in  short,  that  she 
was  the  very  thing  he  ought  to  look  for ;  and  if 
he  would  go  with  him  to  New  York  the  next 
day,  he  would  settle  the  negotiation  for  him. 
To  this  he  soon  assented. — The  next  evening 
found  him  in  that  city,  and  before  noon,  the  day 
after,  he  was  introduced  to  Mrs.  Noble.  He  was 
much  pleased  with  her  appearance;  and,  when 
left  alone  with  her,  abruptly  told  her,  that  he 
supposed  her  brother  had  informed  her  of  his 
errand;  that  neither  his  time  nor  inclination 
would  suffer  him  to  use  much  ceremony ;  but 
that  if  she  approved  the  measure,  he  would  at- 
tend his  charge  on  the  next  sabbath,  and  return 
on  Monday — -be  married^  and  immediately  take 
her  home.  The  lady,  with  some  hesitation  and 
difficulty,  at  last  consented,  being  convinced, 
that  his  situation  and  circumstances  rendered  it 
proper.  Thus,  in  one  week,  she  found  herself 
mistress  of  his  house.  She  proved  a  most  inva- 
luable treasure  to  him — more  than  answering 
every  thing  said  of  her  by  an  affectionate  bro- 
ther. She  took  the  care  of  his  temporal  con- 
cerns upon  her,  extricated  him  from  debt,  and, 
by  a  happy  union  of  prudence  and  economy,  so 


28  UFE     OF     TE55EHT. 

managed  all  his  worldly  business,  that  in  a  few   • 
years  his  circumstances  became  easy  and  com- 
fortable. In  a  word,  in  her  was  literally  fulfilled 
the  declaration  of  Solomon,  that  "a  virtuous 
woman  is  a  crown  to  her  husband,  and  that  her 
price  is  far  above  rubies."  Besides  several  chil- 
dren who  died  in  infancy,  he  had  by  her  three 
sons,  who  attained  the  age  of  manhood;  John, 
who  studied  physic,  and  died  in  the  West  In- 
dies, when  about  thirty-three  years  of  age; 
William,  a  man  of  superior  character,  and  mi- 
nister of  the  Independent  church  in  Charleston, 
South  Carolina,  who  died  the  latter  end  of  Sep- 
tember, or  beginning  of  October,  1777,  about 
thirty-seven  years  old;  and  Gilbert,  who  also 
practiced  physic,  and  died  at  Freehold,  before 
his  father,  aged  twenty-eight  years.    Few  pa- 
rents could  boast  three  sons  of  a  more  manly 
or  handsome  appearance;  ana  the  father  gave 
them  the  most  liberal  education  that  the  coun- 
try could  afford. 

Mr.  Tennent's  inattention  to  earthly  things 
continued  till  his  eldest  son  was  about  three 
years  old,  when  he  led  him  out  into  the  fields 
on  a  Lord's  day,  after  public  worship.  The  de- 
sign of  the  walk  was  for  religious  meditation. 
As  he  went  along,  accidentally  casting  his  eye 


LIFE     OF     TENXEXT 


29 


on  the  child,  a  thought  suddenly  struck  him, 
and  he  asked  himself  this  question:  "Should 
God,  in  his  providence,  take  me  hence,  what 
would  become  of  this  child  and  its  mother,  for 
whom  I  have  never  taken  any  personal  care  to 
make  provision]   How  can  I  answer  this  negli- 
gence to  God  and  to  them  V    The  impropriety 
of  his  inattention  to  the  relative  duties  of  life, 
vyhich  God  had  called  him  to,  and  the  conside- 
ration of  the  sacred  declaration,  "  that  he  who 
does  not  provide  for  his  own  household,  has  de- 
nied the  faith,  and  is  worse  than  an  infidel,"  had 
such  an  impressive  effect  on  his  mind,  that  it 
almost  deprived  him  of  his  senses.   He  saw  his 
conduct,  which  before  he  thought  arose  entirely 
from  a  deep  sense  of  divine  things,  in  a  point  of 
light  in  which  he  never  before  had  viewed  it. 
He  immediately  attempted  to  return  home,  but 
so  great  was  his  distress,  that  it  was  with  diffi- 
culty he  could  get  along;  till,  all  at  once,  he 
was  relieved  by  as  suddenly  recurring  to  that 
text  of  scripture,  which  came  into  his  mind 
with  extraordinary  force—"  But  unto  the  tribe 
of  Levi,  Moses  gave  not  any  inheritance ;  the 
Lord  God  of  Israel  was  their  inheritance."  Such, 
however,  was  the  effect  of  this  unexpected  scene 
on  Mr.  Tennent's  mind  and  judgment,  that  ever 


30 


LIFE     OP     TESSJST', 


afterwards  he  prudently  attended  to  the  tempo- 
ral business  of  life;  still,  however,  in  perfect 
subordination  to  the  great  things  of  eternity, 
and  became  fully  convinced  that  God  was  to  be 
faithfully  served,  as  well  by  discharging  rela- 
tive duties  in  his  love  and  fear,  as  by  the  more 
immediate  acts  of  devotion.  He  clearly  per- 
ceived that  every  duty  had  its  proper  time  and 
place,  as  well  as  motive;  that  we  had  a  right, 
and  were  called  of  God,  to  eat  and  drink,  and  to 
be  properly  clothed;  and,  of  course,  that  care 
should  be  taken  to  procure  those  things,  pro- 
vided that  all  be  done  to  the  glory  of  God.  In 
the  duties  of  a  gospel  minister,  however,  espe- 
cially as  they  related  to  his  pastoral  charge,  he 
still  engaged  with  the  utmost  zeal  and  faithful- 
ness ;  and  was  esteemed  by  all  ranks  and  de- 
grees, as  far  as  his  labors  extended,  as  a  fervent, 
useful,  and  successful  preacher  of  the  gospel. 

His  judgment  of  mankind  was  such  as  to  give 
him  a  marked  superiority,  in  this  respect,  over 
his  contemporaries,  and  greatly  aided  him  in 
his  ministerial  functions.  He  was  scarcely  ever 
mistaken  in  the  character  of  a  man  with  whom 
he  conversed,  though  it  was  but  for  a  few  hours. 
He  had  an  independent  mind,  which  was  seldom 
satisfied  on  important  subjects  without  the  best 


LIFE     OF     TENNEXT.  31 

evidence  that  was  to  be  had.  His  manner  was 
remarkably  impressive;  and  his  sermons,  al- 
though seldom  polished,  were  generally  deli- 
vered with  such  indescribable  power,  that  he 
was  truly  an  able  and  successful  minister  of  the 
New  Testament.  He  could  say  things  from  the 
pulpit,  which,  if  said  by  almost  any  other  man, 
would  have  been  thought  a  violation  of  propri- 
ety; but  by  him  they  were  delivered  in  a  man- 
ner so  peculiar  to  himself,  and  so  extremely  im- 
pressive, that  they  seldom  failed  to  please  and 
to  instruct.  As  an  instance  of  this,  the  follow- 
ing anecdote  is  given,  of  the  truth  of  which  the 
writer  was  a  witness : 

Mr.  Tennent  was  passing  through  a  town  in 
the  state  of  New  Jersey,  in  which  he  was  a 
stranger,  and  had  never  preached;  and,  stop- 
ping at  a  friend's  house  to  dine,  was  informed, 
that  it  was  a  day  of  fasting  and  prayer  in  the 
congregation,  on  account  of  a  very  remarkable 
and  severe  drought,  which  threatened  the  most 
dangerous  consequences  to  the  fruits  of  the 
earth.  His  friend  had  just  returned  from  church, 
and  the  intermission  was  but  half  an  hour.  Mr. 
Tennent  was  requested  to  preach,  and  with 
great  difficulty  consented,  as  he  wished  to  pro- 
ceed on  his  journey.  At  church,  the  people  were 


32  I.IFB     OF     TENNINT. 

surprised  to  see  a  preacher  wholly  unknown  to 
them,  and  entirely  unexpected,  ascend  the  pul- 
pit.   His  whole  appearance,  being  in  a  travel- 
ling dress,  covered  with  dust — wearing  an  old 
fashioned,  large  wig,  discolored  like  his  clothes, 
and  a  long,  meagre  visage,  engaged  their  atten- 
tion, and  excited  their  curiosity.    On  his  rising 
up,  instead  of  beginning  to  pray,  as  was  the 
usual  practice,  he  looked  around  the  congrega- 
tion, with  a  piercing  eye  and  earnest  attention, 
.aid,  after  a  minute's  profound  silence,  he  ad- 
dressed them,  with  great  solemnity,  in  the  fol- 
lowing words:    "My  beloved  brethren!  I  am 
told  you  have  come  here  to-day  to  fast  and  pray ; 
a  very  good  work  indeed,  provided  you  have 
come  with  a  sincere  desire  to  glorify  God  there- 
by: but  if  your  design  is  merely  to  comply  with 
a  customary  practice,  or  with  the  wish  of  your 
church  officers,  you  are  guilty  of  the  greatest 
folly  imaginable,  as  you  had  much  better  have 
staid  at  home  and  earned  your  three  shillings 
and  six  pence*    But  if  your  minds  are  indeed 
impressed  with  the  solemnity  of  the  occasion, 
and  you  are  really  desirous  of  humbling  your- 
selves before  Almighty  God,  your  heavenly  Fa- 


*  At  that  time,  the  stated  price  for  a  day's  labor. 


LIFE     OF     TENNKKT.  33 

ther,  come,  join  with  me,  and  let  us  pray."  This 
had  an  effect  so  uncommon  and  extraordinary 
on  the  congregation,  that  the  utmost  seriousness 
was  universally  manifested.  The  prayer  and  the 
sermon  added  greatly  to  the  impressions  already 
made,  and  tended  to  rouse  the  attention,  influ- 
ence the  mind,  command  the  affections,  and  in- 
crease the  temper  which  had  been  so  happily 
produced.  Many  had  reason  to  bless  God  for 
this  unexpected  visit,  and  to  reckon  this  day 
one  of  the  happiest  of  their  lives.* 

*  The  writer  having  requested  of  the  present 
Rev.  Dr.  William  M.  Tennent,  a  written  account 
of  an  anecdote  relative  to  his  uncle,  which  he  had 
once  heard  him  repeat  verbally,  received,  in  reply, 
the  following  letter : 

Abington,  January  11,  1806. 

Sir — The  anecdote  of  my  venerable  relative, 
the  Rev.  William  Tennent,  of  Freehold,  which 
you  wished  me  to  send  you,  is  as  follows  : 

During  the  great  revival  of  religion,  which  took 
place  under  the  ministry  of  Mr.  Whitefield,  and 
others  distinguished  for  their  piety  and  zeal  at  that 
period,  Mr.  Tennent  was  laboriously  active,  and 
much  engaged  to  help  forward  the  work ;  in  the 
performance  of  which  he  met  with  strong  and  pow- 
erful temptations.  The  following  is  related  as  re- 
ceived, in  substance,  from  his  own  lips,  and  may  be 
considered  as  extraordinary  and  singularly  striking: 


34  ilFB     OF     T  E  5"  N  E  K  T  . 

While  on  this  subject,  we  may  introduce  an- 
other anecdote  of  this  wonderful  man,  to  show 
the  dealings  of  God  with  him,  and  the  deep  con- 
On  the  evening  preceding  public  worship,  which 
was  to  be  attended  the  next  day,  he  selected  a  sub- 
ject for  the  discourse  which  was  to  be  delivered, 
and  made  some  progress  in  his  preparations.  In 
the  morning,  he  resumed  the  same  subject,  with 
an  intention  to  extend  his  thoughts  further  on  it, 
but  was  presently  assaulted  with  a  temptation  that 
the  Bible,  which  he  then  held  in  his  hand,  was  not 
of  divine  authority,  but  the  invention  of  man.  He 
instantly  endeavored  to  repel  the  temptation,  by 
prayer,  but  his  endeavors  proved  unavailing.  The 
temptation  continued,  and  fastened  upon  him  with 
greater  strength,  as  the  time  advanced  for  public 
service.  He  lost  all  the  thoughts  which  he  had  on 
his  subject  the  preceding  evening.  He  tried  other 
subjects,  but  could  get  nothing  for  the  people.  The 
whole  book  of  God,  under  that  distressing  state  of 
mind,  was  a  sealed  book  to  him;  and,  to  add  to  his 
affliction,  he  was,  to  use  his  own  words,  "  shut  up 
in  prayer."  A  cloud,  dark  as  that  of  Egypt,  op- 
pressed his  mind. 

Thus  agonized  in  spirit,  he  proceeded  to  the 
church,  where  he  found  a  large  congregation  as- 
sembled, and  waiting  to  hear  the  word;  and  then 
it  was,  he  observed,  that  he  was  more  deeply  dis- 
tressed than  ever,  and  especially  for  the  dishonor 
which  he  feared  would  fall  upon  religion,  through 
him,  that  day.  He  resolved,  however,  to  attempt 
the  service.  He  introduced  it  by  singing  a  psalm, 
during  which  time  his  agitations  were  increased  to 


LIFE     OF     T  E  N  X  E  X  T  .  35 

templations  of  his  mind.  He  was  attending  the 
duties  of  the  Lord's  day  in  his  own  congrega- 
tion, as  usual,  where  the  custom  was  to  have 
morning  and  evening  service,  with  only  half  an 
hour's  intermission  to  relieve  the  attention.  He 
had  preached  in  the  morning,  and  in  the  inter- 

the  highest  degree.  When  the  moment  for  prayer 
commenced,  he  arose,  as  one  in  the  most  perilous 
and  painful  situation,  and  with  arms  extended  to 
heaven,  began  with  this  outcry,  "  Lord  have  mercy 
vpon  me .'"  Upon  the  utterance  of  this  petition,  he 
was  heard ;  the  thi  k  cloud  instantly  broke  away, 
and  an  unspeakably  joyful  light  shone  in  upon  his 
soul,  so  that  his  spirit  seemed  to  be  caught  up  to 
the  heavens,  and  he  felt  as  though  he  saw  God,  as 
Moses  did  on  the  mount,  face  to  face,  and  was  car- 
ried forth  to  him,  with  an  enlargement  greater  than 
he  had  ever  before  experienced,  and  on  every  page*1 
of  the  scriptures  saw  his  divinity  inscribed  in 
brightest  colors.  The  result  was,  a  deep  solemnity 
on  the  face  of  the  whole  congregation,  and  the 
house,  at  the  end  of  the  prayer,  was  a  Bochim. 
He  gave  them  the  subject  of  his  evening  medita- 
tions, which  was  brought  to  his  full  remembrance, 
with  an  overflowing  abundance  of  other  weighty 
and  solemn  matter.  The  Lord  blessed  the  dis- 
course, so  that  it  proved  the  happy  means  of  the 
conversion  of  about  thirty  persons.  This  day  he 
spoke  of,  ever  afterwards,  as  his  harvest  day. 
I  am  yours,  with  esteem, 

William  M.  Texnent, 


36  tIFtf   «F    TEK5E3fT< 

mission  had  walked  into  the  woods  for  medita- 
tion, the  weather  being  warm.  He  was  reflect- 
ing on  the  infinite  wisdom  of  God,  as  manifested 
in  all  his  works,  and  particularly  in  the  wonder- 
ful method  of  salvation,  through  the  death  and 
sufferings  of  his  beloved  Son.  This  subject  sud- 
denly opened  on  his  mind  with  such  a  flood  of 
light,  that  his  views  of  the  glory,  and  the  infi- 
nite majesty  of  Jehovah,  were  so  inexpressibly 
great  as  entirely  to  overwhelm  him,  and  he  fell, 
almost  lifeless,  to  the  ground.    When  he  had 
-revived  a  little,  all  he  could  do  was  to  raise  a 
fervent  prayer  that  God  would  withdraw  him- 
self from  him,  or  that  he  must  perish  under  a 
view  of  his  ineffable- glory.    When  able  to  re- 
flect on  his  situation,  he  could  not  but  abhor 
himself  as  a  weak  and  despicable  worm,  and 
seemed  to  be  overcome  with  astonishment,  that 
a  creature  so  unworthy  and  insufficient,  had 
ever  dared  to  attempt  the  instruction  of  his  fel- 
low men  in  the  nature  and  attributes  of  so  glo- 
rious a  Being.  Overstaying  his  usual  time,  some 
of  his  elders  went  in  search  of  him,  and  found 
him  prostrate  on  the  ground,  unable  to  rise,  and 
incapable  of  informing  them  of  the  cause.  They 
raised  him  up,  and,  after  some  time,  brought  him 
to  the  church,  and  supported  him  to  the  pulpit, 


LIFE     OP     TESJfllfT.  37 

which  he  ascended  on  his  hands  and  knees,  to 
the  no  small  astonishment  of  the  congregation. 
He  remained  silent  a  considerable  time,  ear- 
nestly supplicating  Almighty  God  (as  he  told 
the  writer)  to  hide  himself  from  him,  that  he 
might  tie  enabled  to  address  his  people,  who 
were  by  this  time  lost  in  wonder  to  know  what 
had  produced  this  uncommon  event.  His  pray- 
ers were  heard,  and  he  became  able  to  stand  up, 
by  holding  the  desk.  He  now  began  the  most 
affecting  and  pathetic  address  that  the  congre- 
gation had  ever  received  from  him.  He  gave  a 
surprising  account  of  the  views  he  had  of  the 
infinite  wisdom  of  God,  and  greatly  deplored  his 
own  incapacity  to  speak  to  them  concerning  a 
being  so  infinitely  glorious  beyond  all  his  pow- 
ers of  description.  He  attempted  to  show  some- 
thins:  of  what  had  been  discovered  to  him  of  the 
astonishing  wisdom  of  Jehovah,  of  which  it  was 
impossible  for  human  nature  to  form  adequate 
conceptions.  He  then  broke  out  into  so  fervent 
and  expressive  a  prayer,  as  greatly  to  surprise 
the  congregation,  and  draw  tears  from  every 
eye.  A  sermon  followed,  that  continued  the  so- 
lemn scene,  and  made  very  lasting  impressions 
on  all  the  hearers. 

The  great  increase  of  communicants  in  his 


OS  LIFE     OF     TEX  NEXT* 

church  was  a  good  evidence  of  his  pastoral  care 
and  powerful  preaching,  as  it  exceeded  that  of 
most  churches  in  the  synod.  But  his  labors  were 
not  confined  to  the  pulpit.  He  was  indefatiga- 
ble in  his  endeavors  to  communicate  in  private 
families  a  savor  of  the  knowledge  of  spiritual 
and  divine  things.  In  his  parochial  visits,  he 
used  regularly  to  go  through  his  congregation, 
in  order,  so  as  to  carry  the  unsearchable  riches 
of  Christ  to  every  house.  He  earnestly  pressed 
it  on  the  conscience  of  parents,  to  instruct  their 
children  at  home,  by  plain  and  easy  questions, 
so  as  gradually  to  expand  their  young  minds, 
and  prepare  them  for  the  reception  of  the  more 
practical  doctrines  of  the  gospel.  In  this,  Mr. 
Tennent  has  presented  an  excellent  example 
to  his  brethren  in  the  ministry ;  for  certain  it  is, 
that  more  good  may  be  done  in  a  congregation, 
by  this  domestic  mode  of  instruction,  than  any 
one  can  imagine  who  has  not  made  the  trial. 
Children  and  servants  are  in  this  way  prepared 
for  the  teachings  of  the  sanctuary,  and  to  reap 
the  full  benefit  of  the  word  publicly  preached. 
He  made  it  a  practice,  in  all  these  visits,  to  en- 
force practical  religion  on  all,  high  and  low, 
rich  and  poor,  young  and  old,  master  and  ser- 
vant.   To  this  he  was  particularly  attentive,  it 


LIFE     Or     TENSIXT,  39 

being  a  favorite  observation  with  him,  "  that  he 
loved  a  religion  that  a  man  could  live  by." 

Mr.  Tennent  carefully  avoided  the  discussion 
of  controversial  subjects,  unless  specially  called 
to  it  by  particular  circumstances ;  and  then  he 
was  ever  ready  to  assign  the  reason  of  his  faith. 
The  following  occurrence  will  show  the  gene- 
ral state  of  his  mind  and  feelings  in  regard  to 
such  subjects.  A  couple  of  young  clergymen, 
visiting  at  his  house,  entered  into  a  dispute  on 
the  question,  at  that  time  much  controverted 
in  New  England,  whether  faith  or  repentance 
were  first  in  order,  in  the  conversion  of  a  sin- 
ner. Not  being  able  to  determine  the  point, 
they  agreed  to  make  Mr.  Tennent  their  um- 
pire, and  to  dispute  the  subject  at  length  before 
him.  He  pccepted  the  proposal,  and,  after  a 
solemn  debate  for  some  time,  his  opinion  being 
asked,  he  very  gravely  took  his  pipe  from  his 
mouth,  looked  out  of  his  window,  pointed  to  a 
man  ploughing  on  a  hill  at  some  distance,  and 
asked  the  young  clergymen  if  they  knew  that 
man:  on  their  answering  in  the  negative,  he 
told  them  it  was  one  of  his  elders,  who,  to  his 
full  conviction,  had  been  a  sincere  christian  for 
more  than  thirty  years.  "  Now,"  said  Mr.  Ten- 
nent, "  ask  him,  whether  faith  or  repentance 


40  HJE     OF     TENITENT. 

came  first,  what  do  you  think  he  would  say?" 
They  said  they  could  not  tell.    "Then,"  says 
he,  "I  will  tell  you:  he  would  say,  that  he 
cared  not  which  came  first,  but  that  he  had  got 
them  both.    Now,  my  friends,"  he  added,  "be 
careful  that  you  have  both  a  true  faith  and  a 
sincere  repentance,  and  not  be  greatly  troubled 
which  comes  first."    It  is  not,  however,  to  be 
supposed  by  this  that  Mr.  Tennent  was  un- 
friendly to  a  deep  and  accurate  examination  of 
all  important  theological  doctrines.  There  were 
few  more  earnest  than  he  to  have  young  cler- 
gymen well  instructed  and  thoroughly  furnished 
•  for  their  work.    This,  indeed,  was  an  object  on 
which  his  heart  was  much  set,  and  which  he 
exerted  himself  greatly  to  promote. 

Mr.  Tennent  was.  remarkably  distinguished 
for  a  pointed  attention  to  the  particular  circum- 
stances and  situation  of  the  afflicted,  either  in 
body  or  mind,  and  would  visit  them  with  as 
much  care  and  attention  as  a  physician,  and 
frequently,  indeed,  proved  an  able  one,  to  both 
soul  and  body.  But  his  greatest  talent  was  that 
of  a  peace-maker,  which  he  possessed  m  so  emi- 
nent a  degree,  that  probably  none  have  exceed- 
ed, and  very  few  have  equalled  him  in  it.  He 
was  sent  for,  far  and  near,  to  settle  disputes, 


LIFE     OF     TENNENT.  41 

and  heal  difficulties,  which  arose  in  congrega- 
tions; and,  happily  for  those  concerned,  he  was 
generally  successful.  Indeed,  he  seldom  would 
relinquish  his  object  till  he  accomplished  it. 

But  while  this  man  of  God  was  thus  success- 
ful in  promoting  the  interest  of  his  fellow  crea- 
tures, and  in  advancing  the  glory  of  his  Lord 
and  Master,  the  great  enemy  of  mankind  was 
not  likely  to  observe  the  destruction  of  his  king- 
dom without  making  an  effort  to  prevent  it.  As 
he  assailed  our  blessed  Savior,  in  the  days  of  his 
flesh,  with  all  his  art  and  all  his  power,  so  has 
he  always  made  the  faithful  followers  of  the 
Redeemer  the  objects  of  his  inveterate  malice. 
If  the  good  man,  of  whom  we  write,  was  greatly 
honored  by  peculiar  communications  from  on 
high,  he  was  also  very  often  the  subject  of  the 
severe  bufferings  of  that  malignant  and  fallen 
spirit. 

The  time  of  which  we  are  now  speaking  was 
remarkable  for  a  great  revival  of  religion*  in 
which  Mr.  Tennent  was  considerably  instru- 
mental, and  in  which  a  Mr.  David  Rowland, 
brought  up  with  Mr.  Tennent  at  the  Log  Col- 
lege, was  also  very  remarkable  for  his  success- 


*  It  was  not  far  from  the  year  1744. 

D 


42  LIFE     OF     TENKElfT. 

ful  preaching  among  all  ranks  of  people.  Pos- 
sessing a  commanding  eloquence,  as  well  as 
other  estimable  qualities,  he  became  very  popu- 
lar, and  was  much  celebrated  throughout  the 
country.  His  celebrity  and  success  were  sub- 
jects of  very  serious  regret  to  many  careless 
worldlings,  who  placed  all  their  happiness  in 
the  enjoyment  of  temporal  objects,  and  consi- 
dered, and  represented  Mr.  Rowland  and  his 
brethren  as  fanatics  and  hypocrites.  This  was 
specially  applicable  to  many  of  the  great  men 
of  the  then  province  of  New  Jersey,  and  parti- 
cularly to  the  chief  justice,  who  was  well  known 
for  his  disbelief  of  revelation.  There  was,  at  this 
time,  prowling  through  the  country,  a  noted 
man,  by  the  name  of  Tom  Bell,  whose  know- 
ledge and  understanding  were  very  considera- 
ble, and  who  greatly  excelled  in  low  art  and 
cunning.  His  mind  was  totally  debased,  and 
his  whole  conduct  betrayed  a  soul  capable  of 
descending  to  every  species  of  iniquity.  In  all 
the  arts  of  theft,  robbery,  fraud,  deception,  and 
defamation,  he  was  so  deeply  skilled,  and  so 
thoroughly  practiced,  that  it  is  believed  he  ne- 
ver had  his  equal  in  this  country.  He  had  been 
indicted  in  almost  every  one  of  the  middle  colo- 
nies; but  his  ingenuity  and  cunning  always  en- 


LIFEOFTENNENT.  43 

abled  him  to  escape  punishment.  This  man  un- 
happily resembled  Mr.  Rowland  in  his  external 
appearance,  so  as  hardly  to  be  known  from  him 
without  the  most  careful  examination. 

It  so  happened,  that  Tom  Bell  arrived  one 
evening-  at  a  tavern  in  Princeton,  dressed  in  a 
dark  parson's-gray  frock.    On  his  entering  the 
tavern  about  dusk,  the  late  John  Stockton,  esq., 
of  that  town,  a  pious  and  respectable  man,  to 
whom  Mr.  Rowland  was  well  known,  went  up 
to  Bell,  and  addressed  him  as  Mr.  Rowland,  and 
was  inviting  him  to  go  home  with  him.    Bell 
assured  him  of  his  mistake.    It  was  with  some 
difficulty  that  Mr.  Stockton  acknowledged  bis 
error,  and  then  informed  Bell  that  it  had  arisen 
from  his  great  resemblance  to  Mr.  Rowland. 
This  hint  was  sufficient  for  the  prolific  genius 
of  that  notorious  impostor.    The  next  day  Bell 
went  into  the  county  of  Hunterdon,  and  stopped 
in  a  congregation  where  Mr.  Rowland  had  for- 
merly preached  once  or  twice,  but  where  he 
was  not  intimately  known.    Here  he  met  with 
a  member  of  the  congregation,  to  whom  he  in- 
troduced himself  as  the  Rev.  Mr.  Rowland,  who 
had  preached  to  them  some  time  before.    This 
gentleman  immediately  invited  him  to  his  house, 
to  spend  the  week;  and  begged  him,  as  the  peo- 


44  LIFE     OF     *  E  2f  3T  £  If  Itf  , 

#e  were  without  a  minister  to  preach  for  them 
on  the  next  sabbath;  to  which  Bel]  agreed,  and 
notice  was  accordingly  given  the  neighborhood. 
The  impostor  was  treated  with  every  mark  of 
attention  and  respect;  and  a  private  room  was 
assigned  to  him,  as  a  study,  to  prepare  for  the 
sabbath.  The  sacred  day  arrived,  and  he  was 
invited  to  ride  to.  church  with  the  ladies  in  the 
family  wagon,  and  the  master  of  the  house  ac- 
companied them  on  an  elegant  horse.  When 
they  had  arrived  near  the  church,  Bell,  on  a 
sudden,  discovered  that  he  had  left  his  notes  in 
his  study,  and  proposed  to  ride  back  for  them 
on  the  fine  horse,  by  which  means  he  should  be 
able  to  return  in  time  for  the  service.  This  pro- 
posal was  instantly  agreed  to,  and  Bell  mounted 
the  horse,  returned  to  the  house,  rifled  the  desk 
of  his  host,  and  made  off  with  the  horse.— 
Wherever  he  stopped,  he  called  himself  the 
Rev.  David  Rowland. 

At  the  time  this  event  took  place,  Messrs. 
Tennent  and  Rowland  had  gone  into  Pennsyl- 
vania, or  Maryland,  with  Mr.  Joshua  Anderson 
and  Mr.  Benjamin  Stevens,  (both  members  of  a 
church  contiguous  to  that  where  Bell  had  prac- 
ticed his  fraud)  on  business  of  a  religious  na- 
ture. Soon  after  their  return,  Mr.  Rowland  was 


HIE     OF     TES5EST.  45 

charged  with  the  above  robbery:  he  gave  bonds 
to  appear  at  the  court  at  Trenton,  and  the  af- 
fair made  a  great  noise  throughout  the  colony. 
At  the  court  of  oyer  and  terminer,  the  judge 
charged  the  grand  jury  on  the  subject  with  great 
severity.  After  long  consideration,  the  jury  re- 
turned into  court  without  finding  a  bill.  The 
judge  reproved  them,  in  an  angry  manner,  and 
ordered  them  out  again.  They  again  returned 
without  finding  a  bill,  and  were  again  sent  out 
with  threatenings  of  severe  punishment  if  they 
persisted  in  their  refusal.  At  last  they  agreed, 
and  brought  in  a  bill  for  the  alleged  crime.  On 
the  trial,  Messrs.  Tennent,  Anderson,  and  Ste- 
vens appeared  as  witnesses,  and  fully  proved  an 
alibi  in  favor  of  Mr.  Rowland,  by  swearing,  that 
on  the  very  day  on  which  the  robbery  was  com- 
mitted, they  were  with  Mr.  Rowland,  and  heard 
him  preach  in  Pennsylvania  or  Maryland.  The 
jury,  accordingly,  acquitted  him  without  hesi- 
tation, to  the  great  disappointment  and  mortifi- 
cation of  his  prosecutors,  and  of  many  other  en- 
emies to  the  great  revival  of  religion  that  had 
recently  taken  place;  but  to  the  great  joy  of  the 
serious  and  well  disposed. 

The  spirits  hostile  to  the  spread  of  the  gospel 
were  not,  however,  so  easily  overcome.  In  their 


46  LIFE     OF     TESIfJJT, 

view,  an  opportunity  was  now  presented,  favoi 
able  for  inflicting  a  deep  wound  on  the  cause  of 
Christianity;  and,  as  if  urged  on  by  the  malice 
of  man's  great  enemy,  they  resolved  that  nc 
means  should  be  left  untried — no  arts  unem- 
ployed, for  the  destruction  of  these  distinguished 
servants  of  God.  Many  and  various  were  the 
circumstances  which  still  contributed  to  inspire 
them  with  hopes  of  success.  The  testimony  of 
the  person  who  had  been  robbed,  was  positive 
that  Mr.  Rowland  was  the  robber:  and  this  tes- 
timony was  corroborated  by  that  of  a  number  of 
individuals,  who  had  seen  Tom  Bell  personating 
Mr.  Rowland,  using  his  name,  and  in  possession 
of  the  horse.  These  sons  of  Belial  had  been  able, 
after  great  industry  used  for  the  purpose,  to  col- 
lect a  mass  of  evidence  of  this  kind,  which  they 
considered  as  establishing  the  fact ;  but  Mr. 
Rowland  was  now  out  of  their  power,  by  the 
verdict  of  not  guilty.  Their  vengeance,  there- 
fore, was  directed  against  the  witnesses  by 
whose  testimony  he  had  been  cleared ;  and  they 
were  accordingly  arraigned  for  perjury  before 
a  court  of  quarter  sessions  in  the  county;  and 
the  grand  jury  received  a  strict  charge,  the 
plain  import  of  which  was,  that  these  good  men 
ought  to  be  indicted.    After  an  examination  oi 


L  I  F  E     OF     T  E  N  N  K  N  f  .  *  / 

the  testimony  on  one  side  only,  as  is  the  custom 
in  such  cases,  the  grand  jury  did  accordingly 
find  bills  of  indictment  against  Messrs.  Ten- 
nent,  Anderson,  and  Stevens,  for  wilful  and 
corrupt  perjury.  Their  enemies,  and  the  ene- 
mies of  the  gospel  now  began  to  triumph.  They 
gloried  in  the  belief,  that  an  indelible  stain 
would  be  fixed  on  the  professors  of  religion, 
and,  of  consequence,  on  religion  itself;  and  that 
this  new  light,  by  which  they  denominated  all 
appearance  of  piety,  would  soon  be  extinguished 
for  ever. 

These  indictments  were  removed  to  the  su- 
preme court ;  and  poor  Mr.  Anderson,  living  in 
the  county,  and  conscious  of  his  entire  inno- 
cence, could  not  brook  the  idea  of  lying  under 
the  odium  of  the  hateful  crime  of  perjury,  and 
demanded  a  trial  at  the  first  court  of  oyer  and 
terminer.  This  proved  most  seriously  injurious 
to  him ;  for  he  was  pronounced  guilty,  and  most 
cruelly  and  unjustly  condemned  to  stand  one 
hour  on  the  courthouse  steps,  with  a  paper  on 
his  breast,  whereon  was  written,  in  large  let- 
ters, "This  is  for  wilful  and  corrupt  perjury;" 
which  sentence  was  executed  upon  him. 

Messrs.  Tennent  and  Stevens  were  sum- 
moned to  appear  at  the  next  court;  and  at- 


48 


XIFE     OF     TEKSTENT, 


tended  accordingly,  depending  on  the  aid  of 
Mr.  John  Coxe,  an  eminent  lawyer,  who  had 
been  previously  employed  to  conduct  their  de- 
fence. As  Mr.  Tennent  was  wholly  unac- 
quainted with  the  nature  of  forensic  litigation, 
and  did  not  know  of  any  person  living  who 
could  prove  his  innocence,  (all  the  persons  who 
were  with  him  being  indicted,)  his  only  re- 
source and  consolation  was  to  commit  himself 
to  the  divine  will,  and  if  he  must  suffer,  to  take 
it  as  from  the  hand  of  God,  who,  he  well  knew, 
could  make  even  the  wrath  of  man  to  praise 
him  ;*  and  considering  it  as  probable  that  he 
might  suffer,  he  had  prepared  a  sermon  to  be 
preached  from  the  pillory,  if  that  should  be  his 
fate.  On  his  arrival  at  Trenton,  he  found  the 
famous  Mr.  Smith,  of  New  York,  father  of  the 
late  chief  justice  of  Canada,  one  of  the  ablest 
lawyers  in  America,  and  of  a  religious  charac- 
ter, who  had  voluntarily  attended  to  aid  in  his 
defence ;  also  his  brother  Gilbert,  who  was  now 
settled  in  the  pastoral  charge  of  the  second 
Presbyterian  church  in  Philadelphia,  and  who 
had  brought  Mr.  John  Kinsey,  one  of  the  first 

*  His  affectionate  congregation  felt  deeply  in- 
terested in  his  critical  situation,  and  kept  a  day  of 
fasting  and  prayer  on  the  occasion. 


ItTE     OF     TEN5EKT.  49 

counsellors  of  that  city,  for  the  same  purpose. 
Messrs.  Tennent  and  Stevens  met  these  gen- 
tlemen at  Mr.  Coxe's  the  morning  before  the 
trial  was  to  come  on.  Mr.  Coxe  requested  that 
they  would  bring  in  their  witnesses,  that  they 
might  examine  them  previously  to  their  going 
into  court.  Mr.  Tennent  answered,  that  he  did 
not  know  of  any  witnesses  but  God  and  his  own 
conscience.  Mr.  Coxe  replied,  "If  you  have  no 
witnesses,  sir,  the  trial  must  be  put  off;  other- 
wise you  most  certainly  will  be  convicted.  You 
well  know  the  strong  testimony  that  will  be 
brought  against  you,  and  the  exertions  that  are 
making  to  accomplish  your  ruin."  Mr.  Tennent 
replied,  "  I  am  sensible  of  all  this,  yet  it  never 
shall  be  said  that  I  have  delayed  the  trial,  or 
been  afraid  to  meet  the  justice  of  my  country. 
I  know  my  own  innocence,  and  that  God,  whose 
I  am,  and  whom  I  serve,  will  never  suffer  me 
to  fall  by  these  snares  of  the  devil,  or  by  the 
wicked  machinations  of  his  agents  or  servants; 
therefore,  gentlemen,  go  on  to  the  trial." — 
Messrs.  Smith  and  Kinsey,  who  were  both  re- 
ligious men,  told  him  that  his  confidence  and 
trust  in  God,  as  a  christian  minister  of  the  gos- 
pel, was  well  founded,  and  before  a  heavenly 
tribunal  would  be  all  important  to  him ;  but  as- 

E 


50  LIFE     OF     TE5NEST. 

sured  him  it  would  not  avail  in  an  earthly  court, 
and  urged  his  consent  to  put  off  the  trial.    Mr. 
Tennent  continued  inflexible  in  his  refusal;  on 
which  Mr.  Coxe  told  him,  that  since  he  was  de- 
termined to  go  to  trial,  he  had  the  satisfaction  of 
informing  him  that  they  had  discovered  a  flaw  in 
the  indictment,  which  might  prove  favorable  to 
him  on  a  demurrer.    He  asked  for  an  explana- 
tion, and  on  finding  that  it  was  to  admit  the  fact 
in  a  legal  point  of  view,  and  rest  on  the  law 
arising  from  it,  Mr.  Tennent  broke  out  with 
great  vehemence,  saying,  that  this  was  another 
snare  of  the  devil,  and  before  he  would  consent 
to  it  he  would  suffer  death.    He  assured  his 
counsel,  that   his  confidence  in  God  was  so 
strong,  and  his  assurance  that  he  would  bring 
about  his  deliverance,  some  way  or  other,  was 
so  great,  that  he  did  not  wish  them  to  delay  the 
trial  for  a  moment. 

Mr.  Stevens,  whose  faith  was  not  of  this 
description,  and  who  was  bowed  down  to  the 
ground  under  the  most  gloomy  apprehensions 
of  suffering,  as  his  neighbor  Mr.  Anderson  had 
done,  eagerly  seized  the  opportunity  of  escape 
that  was  offered,  and  was  afterwards  discharged 
on  the  exception. 

Mr.  Coxe  still  urged  putting  off  the  trial, 


LITE     OF     TENNENT. 


51 


charging  Mr.  Tennent  with  acting  the  part 
rather  of  a  wild  enthusiast,  than  of  a  meek  and 
prudent  christian ;  but  he  insisted  that  they 
should  proceed,  and  left  them  in  astonishment, 
not  knowing  how  to  act,  when  the  bell  sum- 
moned them  to  court. 

Mr.  Tennent  had  not  walked  far  in  the  street, 
before  he  met  a  man  and  his  wife,  who  stopped 
him,  and  asked  if  his  name  was  not  Tennent. 
He  answered  in  the  affirmative,  and  begged  to 
know  if  they  had  an^business  with  him.  The 
man  replied,  "  You  best  know."  He  told  his 
name,  and  said  that  he  was  from  a  certain  place 
(which  he  mentioned)  in  Pennsylvania  or  Ma- 
ryland ;  that  Messrs.  Rowland,  Tennent,  An- 
derson, and  Stevens  had  lodged  either  at  his 
house,  or  in  a  house  wherein  he  and  his  wife 
had  been  servants,  (it  is  not  now  certain  which) 
at  a  particular  time,  which  he  named ;  that  on 
the  following  day  they  had  heard  Messrs.  Ten- 
nent and  Rowland  preach;  that  some  nights  be- 
fore they  left  home,  he  and  his  wife  waked  out 
of  a  sound  sleep,  and  each  told  the  other  a 
dream  which  had  just  occurred,  and  which 
proved  to  be  the  same  in  substance,  to  wit,  that 
he,  Mr.  Tennent,  was  at  Trenton,  in  the  great- 
est possible  distress,  and  that  it  was  in  their 


52  1IFE     OF     TENNENT. 

power,  and  theirs  only,  to  relieve  him.  Consi 
dering  it  as  a  remarkable  dream  only,  they 
again  went  to  sleep,  and  it  was  twice  repeated, 
precisely  in  the  same  manner,  to  both  of  them. 
This  made  so  deep  an  impression  on  their 
minds,  that  they  set  off,  and  here  they  were, 
and  would  know  of"  him  what  they  were  to  do. 
Mr.  Tennent  immediately  went  with  them  to 
the  courthouse,  and  his  counsel,  on  examining 
the  man  and  his  wife,  and  finding  their  testi- 
mony to  be  full  to  the  purpose,  were,  as  they 
well  might  be,  in  perfect  astonishment.  Before 
the  trial  began,  another  person,  of  a  low  charac- 
ter, called  on  Mr.  Tennent,  and  told  him  that 
he  was  so  harassed  in  conscience,  for  the  part 
he  had  been  acting  in  this  prosecution,  that  he 
could  get  no  rest  till  he  had  determined  to  come 
and  mlke^a  full  confession.  He  sent  this  man 
to  his/jeounsel  also.  Soon  after,  Mr.  Stockton, 
fronLJErinceton,  appeared,  and  added  his  testi- 
mony^ In  short,  they  went  to  trial,  and,  not- 
withstanding the  utmost  exertions  of  the  ablest 
counsel,  who  had  been  employed  to  aid  the  at- 
torney general  against  Mr.  Tennent,  the  advo- 
cates on  his  side  so  traced  every  movement  of 
the  defendant,  on  the  Saturday,  Sunday,  and 
Monday  in  question,  and  satisfied  the  jury  eo 


LIFE    or    X»5UT. 

ntbneve  ^fferin^  so  infamous  a 

flee  t  oa  what  had  happened,  he  aecden  ally 
e         S  eyes  on  the  pillory,  which  suddenly  so 
fi  Ued  hJwith  horror,  as  comply to  — 
him  and  it  was  with  great  diffltfny  that  he 
SuLselffton,  falling  from  his  l^e.    He 
reached  the  tavern  door  in  eons.derable  danger 
was  obliged  to  be  assisted  to  dismount,  and  it 
it  hefore  he  eould  so  get  the  better 
of  hrs  fear,  and  confusion,  as  to  proceed  «ta 
journey.  Snch  is  the  constrtution  of  the  human 
S.  It  will  often  resist,  with  unshaken  firm- 
Z,  the  severest  external  pressure  and  va> 


54 

feaves  them  to  feel  their  own  weakness  when 
that  necess.ty  „  past>  that  a„  e" 

be  g,ven  where  alone  it  is  due *  Y 

nit  WJZSmeerely  reJ°ices>  that  though  a 
llofMr  T  S  eXtra°rdi«^  -ide„ts  in^th 

,VW  nt  Ca"n0t  be  vouche<i  ^  pub- 

be  te  t.mony  and  authentic  documents,  vet  the 
smgular  manner  in  winch  a  gracious  God  dM 
appear  for  this  his  faithful  servant,  in  the  time 
of  that  d,stress  which  has  just  be  n  noticed  il 
a  matter  of  public  notoriety,  and  capable  of  be 
mg  venfied  hy  the  most  unquestionable  test! 
mony  and  records. 

This  special  instance  of  the  interference  of 
the ,  nghteous  Judge  of  all  the  earth  ought  to 
yeldconsolatton  to  pious  people  in  seasons  of 
greatdtfficulty  and  distress,  where  there  is  none 
that  seem  able  to  deliver  them.  Yet  it  ought  to 
afford  no  encouragement  to  the  enthusiast,  who 
refuses  to  use  the  means  of  preservation  and 
deuverance  which  God  puts  in  his  power   True 
conhdence  in  God  is  always  accompanied  with 


UII     OF     TENSEST. 

the  use  of  all  lawful  means,  and  with  the  rejec- 
tion of  all  that  are  unlawful.    It  census  m  an 
unshaken  belief,  that  while  right  means .are 
used,  God  will  give  that  issue  winch  shall  be 
most  for  his  glory,  and  his  people  s  good^  The 
extraordinary  occurrence  here  recorded  may 
also  serve  as  a  solemn  warning  to  the  enemies 
of  God's  people,  and  to  the  advocates  of  infi- 
delity, not  to  strive,  by  wicked  and  deep  laid 
machinations,  to  oppose  the  success  of  the  gos- 
pel, nor  to  attempt  to  injure  the  persons  and  cha- 
racters of  those  faithful  servants  of  the  Most 
High,  whom  sooner  or  later  he  will  vindicate, 
to  the  unspeakable  confusion  of  all  who  have 
persecuted  and  traduced  them. 

Mr  Tennent  was  a  man  of  the  most  scrupu- 
lous integrity,  and,  though  of  a  very  grave  and 
solemn  deportment,  he  had  a  remarkably  cheer- 
ful disposition,  and  generally  communicated  his 
instructions  with  so  much  ease  and  pleasantry, 
as  greatly  to  gain  the  confidence  and  affection 
of  all  with  whom  he  conversed,  especially  ot 
children  and  young  people.    In  all  his  inter- 
course with  strangers  and  men  of  the  world,  he 
so  managed  his  conversation,  that,  while  he  sel- 
dom neglected  a  proper  opportunity  to  impress 
the  mind  with  serious  things,  he  always  made 


them  covet  his  company,  rather  than  avoid  it- 

ZSEZ**'.** there  is  a  time  for  a]]  «** 

and  that  even  instruction  and  reproof,  to  be  use- 
fuJ  must  be  prudently  and  seasonably  given 

An  instance  of  this  disposition  occurred' in 
^gima.   The  late  Rev.  M,  Samuel  Blaii  and 
Mr.  Tennent  were  sent  by  the  synod  on  a  mis- 
sion  into  that  province.  They  stopped  one  even- 
mg  at  a  tavern  for  the  night,  where  thev  found 
a  number  of  guests,  with  whom  they  suoped  in 
a  common  room.    After  the  table  was  cleared 
our  missionaries  withdrew  from  it.  Cards  were' 
then  called  for,  and  the  landlord  brought  in  a 
pack,  and  laid  them  on  the  table.    One  of  the 
gentlemen  very  politely  asked  the  missionaries, 
rf  they  would  not  take  a  cut  with  them,  not 
knowing  that  they  were  clergymen.   Mr.  Ten- 
nent very  pleasantly  answered,  "'With  all  my 
heart,  gentlemen,  if  yoa  can  convince  ug  ^ 
thereby  we  can  serve  our  master's  cause    or 
contribute  any  thing  towards  the  success  of 'our 
mission."  This  drew  some  smart  reply  from  the 
gentleman,  when  Mr.  Tennent,  with  solemnity 
added,  "We  are  ministers  of  the  gospel  of  Je- 
sus Christ.   We  profess  ourselves  his  servants; 
we  are  sent  on  his  business,  which  is  to  per- 
suade mankind  to  repent  of  their  sins,  to  turn 


iifeoftennent.  57 

from  them,  and  to  accept  of  that  happiness  and 
salvation  which  is  offered  in  the  gospel."   This 
unexpected  reply,  delivered  in  a  very  tender, 
though  solemn  manner,  and  with  great  appa- 
rent Sincerity,  so  engaged  the  gentlemen's  at- 
tention, that  the  cards  were  laid  aside,  and  an 
opportunity  was  afforded,  and  cheerfully  em- 
braced for  explaining,  in  a  sociable  conversa- 
tion, during  the  rest  of  the  evening,  some  of 
the  leading  and  most  important  doctrines  of  the 
gospel,  to  the  satisfaction,  and  apparent  edifica- 
tion of  the  hearers. 

Resignation  to  the  will  of  God  in  all  his  dis- 
pensations, however  dark  and  afflictive,  was 
among  the  excellent  graces  that  adorned  the 
character  of  this  man  of  God.    He  had  been 
tried,  in  the  course  of  God's  providence,  in  va- 
rious ways;  but  domestic  afflictions,  as  yet,  had 
not  been  laid  upon  him.    The  time,  however, 
was  now  come  when  his  character  was  to  be 
brightened  by  a  severe  test  of  his  resignation 
and  obedience— a  test  attended  with  many  pe- 
culiarly distressing  circumstances.   His  young- 
est son,  who  was  one  of  the  handsomest  of  men, 
had  just  come  into  public  life ;  had  commenced 
the  practice  of  physic,  was  married,  and  had 
one  child.    To  the  great  distress  of  the  parents, 


58 


XIFE     OF     TESNElfT 


he  discovered,  though  possessed  of  the  sweetest, 
temper  and  most  agreeable  manners,  no  regard 
to  the  things  that  belonged  to  his  eternal  peace. 
Wholly  negligent  of  religion,  he  indulged/with- 
out restraint,  in  the  gayety  and  follies  of  the 
world.    The  pious  father  was  incessant  at  the 
throne  of  grace,  in  behalf  of  his  dissipated  son; 
and  was  continually  entertaining  hopes  that 
God  would,  by  the  influences  of  his  Spirit,  ar- 
rest him  in  his  career,  and  bring  him  into  the 
church  of  Christ,  before  his  own  summons  should 
arrive;  that  he  might  die  in  peace,  under  the 
consoling  hope  of  meeting  this  dear  child  in  a 
better  world.    God,  however,  had  determined 
otherwise ;  and  the  son,  while  engaged  in  in- 
oculating a  number  of  persons,  in  a  house  he 
had  obtained  for  the  purpose,  near  his  father's 
neighborhood,  was  seized  in  an  unusually  vio- 
lent manner,  with  a  raging  fever.    With  the 
disorder,  he  was  brought  to  a  sudden  and  alarm- 
ing view  of  his  lost  condition  by  nature,  and  the 
grievous  transgressions  of  his  past  life.  His  sins 
were  all  set  in  dread  array  against  him.  A  hor- 
rible darkness,  and  an  awful  dread  of  the  eter- 
nal displeasure  of  Jehovah,  fell  on  him,  so  as  to 
make  him  the  dreadful  example  of  a  convinced 
«inner,  trembling  under  the  confounding  pre- 


LIFE     OF     TEKKENT.  59 

sence  of  en  angry  God.    The  affectionate  and 
pious  father  was  constantly  in  prayer  and  sup- 
plication, that  God  would  have  mercy  upon  him. 
He  seldom  left  the  side  of  his  bed.    For  many 
days,  the  fever  raged  with  unabated  fury ;  but 
the  immediate  distresses  which  it  occasioned, 
were  lost  or  forgotten  in  the  severer  pains  of 
an  awakened  conscience.  Such  was  the  height 
to  which  his  anguish  at  last  arose,  that  the  bed 
on  which  he  lay  was  shaken  by  the  violent  and 
united  convulsions  of  mind  and  body.    The  pa- 
rents were  touched  to  the  quick ;  and  their  un- 
qualified submission  to  God,  as  a  sovereign  God, 
was  put  to  the  most  rigorous  proof.   But  in  due 
time  they  came  out  of  the  furnace,  as  gold  tried 
in  the  fire.  God,  in  his  infinite  and  condescend- 
incr  grace  and  mercy,  was  at  last  pleased,  in 
some  measure,  to  hear  the  many  prayers  put  up 
by  the  parents,  and  many  pious  friends,  for  the 
relief  of  the  poor  sufferer.  His  views  of  the  lost 
state  of  man  by  nature— of  the  only  means  of 
salvation,  through  the  death  and  sufferings  of 
the  Savior— of  the  necessity  of  the  inward  re- 
generating grace  of  the  Holy  Spirit,  became 
clear  and  consistent,  and  the  importance  of  a 
practical  acquaintance  with  these  things  was 
deeply  and  rationally  impressed  on  his  mind.  He 


60  1IFE     OF     IIJSiJi, 

now  saw  that  salvation,  which  he  had  deemed 
almost,  or  altogether  hopeless  to  him,  was  pos- 
sible.   His  mind  became  calm,  and  he  attended 
to  religious  instruction  and  advice.    In  a  short 
time,  he  began  to  give  as  much  evidence  of  a 
change   of  heart   as  a   death-bed   repentance 
(rarely  to  be  greatly  relied  on)  can  easily  af- 
ford.   He  sent  for  his  companions  in  iniquity, 
and,  notwithstanding  his  disorder,  exerted  him- 
self to  the  utmost  to  address  them,  which  he 
did  in  the  most  solemn,  awful,  and  impressive 
manner,  as  a  person  who,  by  the  infinite  mercy 
of  a  prayer-hearing  God,  had  been  delivered 
from  a  hell  gaping  to  receive  him.  He  besought 
them,  by  all  tjie  terrors  of  everlasting  destruc- 
tion—by all  the  love  they  ought  to  bear  to  their 
own  immortal "fttflg— •  by  the  love  of  a  crucified 
Jesus,  who  poured'  out  his  soul  unto  death,  that 
they  might  live  for  ever — by  his  own  awful  suf- 
ferings and  terrible  example,  that  they  would 
repent  and  turn  to  God.    This  happy  change 
was  a  reviving  cordial  to  the  distressed  and  suf- 
fering father.    His  soul  was  overjoyed,  and  his 
mouth  was  full  of  the  praises  of  redeeming  love. 
His  mind  and  spirits  were  hereby  prepared,  with 
true  resignation,  to  surrender  the  son  of  his  ad- 
vanced age  to  the  God  who  gave  him.   After  a 


I.IFE     OF     TENKENT 


61 


few  days  more  of  severe  suffering  in  body,  but 
rejoicing-  in  mind,  the  son  was  removed  from 
time  to  eternity.  There  being  no  minister  in 
the  neighborhood,  the  father  undertook  to  preach 
a  funeral  sermon.  All  the  son's  old  companions 
that  could  be  sent  to,  were  specially  invited,  and 
the  old  gentleman  preached  in  such  a  manner, 
with  a  particular  address  to  the  young  men,  as 
to  astonish  every  hearer ;  and  while  the  seri- 
ously inclined  wondered  and  adored,  the  care- 
less were  confounded  and  greatly  alarmed. 

Scarcely  had  Mr.  Tennent  got  over  this  hea- 
vy affliction,  and  returned  to  an  active  and  use- 
ful course  of  life  for  a  few  years,  when  God 
again  called  him  to  another  sevejs  and  arduous 
struggle  of  the  same  nature.  Pis  eldest  son, 
John,  promised  fair  to  make  ~a  distinguished 
figure  in  life — had  possessed  a  large  share  in 
the  affections  of  both  father  and  mother,  and 
was  more  dear  to  their  hearts  than  ever,  since 
the  death  of  his  brother.  It  so  happened  that 
the  father  was  called  to  New  York,  to  heal 
some  differences  between  the  members  of  the 
church  there.  The  next  morning  after  his  arri- 
val, he  went  into  a  bookstore,  when  one  of  the 
ministers  of  the  Episcopal  church  came  in,  and, 
on  being  introduced  to  him,  after  the  common 


62  LIFE     OF     TENSTENT. 

salutations,  told  him  that  he  condoled  with  him 
on  the  death  of  his  eldest  son,  in  the  West  In- 
dies. The  old  gentleman  was  at  first  struck 
dumb.  With  difficulty,  he  soon  inquired  how 
the  news  came;  and  being  informed  that  it  was 
by  a  circuitous  route,  he  suddenly  turned,  and 
said,  "The  will  of  the  Lord  be  done."  The 
clergyman  observed,  that  it  was  happy  for  him 
to  be  able  so  cordially  to  submit  to  it.  Mr.  Ten- 
nent  replied,  "  The  Lord  is  my  God,  his  will  be 
done."  On  being  asked  by  the  bookseller,  who 
was  his  particular  friend,  to  retire  into  the 
house,  and  endeavor  to  settle  his  mind,  he  an- 
swered, "I  am  come  on  the  Lord's  business; 
my  duty  requires  that  I  should  finish  it ;  when 
that  is  done  I  shall  have  time  enough  to  mourn 
for  my  son."  He  immediately  set  off  to  attend 
his  appointment,  finished  the  business  to  his  sa- 
tisfaction, and  next  day  returned  home,  where 
he  found  that  a  letter  had  been  received  by 
a  neighbor,  containing  the  same  information 
which  he  had  before  received.  Thus,  on  the 
most  trying  occasion,  he  showed  the  same  sub- 
mission to  the  allotment  of  divine  Providence 
that  was  discoverable  in  all  his  former  conduct. 
The  following  extract  from  a  letter,  written  at 
this  time  to  the  writer  of  this  narrative,  will 


LIFE     OF     TENNENT, 


63 


show  the  temper  of  his  mind,  in  his  own  lan- 
guage :  "  Freehold,  March,  1776.  My  dear  sir, 
Perhaps  before  this  comes  to  hand,  you  will  be 
informed,  that  He  who  gave  me  the  honorable 
epithet  of  a  father,  has,  in  his  wise  and  unerr- 
ing providence,  written  me  childless.*  My  son 
is  dead.  This  account  I  had  yesterday  from  a 
letter  written  to  a  friend;  the  account  is  so 
straight  (though  not  circumstantial)  that  I  can- 
not doubt  its  truth.  The  tender  mother  has  not 
heard  of  it,  nor  do  I  intend  she  shall,  until  au- 
thenticated. This  I  mention  as  a  caution  to  you, 
in  case  you  should  write  me  before  the  matter 
is  published.  Let  the  dear  heart  have  all  possi- 
ble ease,  before  the  load,  which  it  is  likely  will 
try  her  life,  falls  upon  her.  T  know  her  attach- 
ment to  that  child ;  his  conduct  has  been  such 
as  greatly  endeared  him  to  us.  Our  pains  and 
expense  in  his  education  have  been  great,  but 
infinitely  short  of  what  God  has  done  for  him. 
He  has,  therefore,  the  best  right  to  him.  Should 
we  then,  were  it  in  our  power,  obstruct  his 
taking  full  possession  of  his  own  property'?  God 
forbid !  This,  sir,  through  God's  goodness,  is  not 

*  He  seems,  in  the  depth  of  his  distress,  to  have 
forgotten  that  he  had  yet  one  son  left,  although 
he  was  eight  hundred  miles  distant  from  him. 


64  LIFE     OF     TEKSIXT. 

only  what  I  say,  but  it  is  the  temper  of  my  soul, 
for  which  God  only  deserves  the  honor.  It  is 
now  above  fifty  years  since  my  soul  resigned 
itself  to  God  in  Jesus  Christ.  I  had  then  neither 
son  nor  daughter;  I  was  completely  satisfied 
with  him,  and,  blessed  be  his  name,  1  am  so  now. 
Have  I  then  reason  to  cry  out  as  if  ruined  1  Oh ! 
no :  on  the  contrary,  I  have  the  utmost  reason 
for  thanksgiving,  that  he  has  not,  in  righteous 
judgment,  deprived  me  of  himself,  in  whom  all 
fullness  dwells.  My  wife  and  myself  are  now 
hastening  to  childhood ;  if  spared  a  few  years, 
we  shall  need  one  to  lead  us ;  and  we  shall  look 
to  you  under  God.  All  the  benefit  you  can  ex- 
pect from  so  doing,  will  consist  in  the  satisfac- 
tion of  your  own  mind,  that  you  have  helped 
two  old  people  through  the  last  steps  of  their 
pilgrimage."  Thus  did  this  pious  man  turn 
every  event  of  his  life,  however  afflictive,  to 
the  praise  and  glory  of  God,  and  he  seldom  omit- 
ted an  opportunity  of  inculcating  the  same  dis- 
position on  all  his  acquaintance. 

When  the  late  Rev.  George  Whitefield  was 
last  in  this  country,  Mr.  Tennent  paid  him  a  vi- 
sit, as  he  was  passing  through  New  Jersey.  Mr. 
Whitefield  and  a  number  of  other  clergymen, 
among  whom  was  Mr.  Tennent,  were  invited 


1. 1  F  E     OF     T  E  K  N  E  tf  T  .  65 

to  dinner  by  a  gentleman  in  the  neighborhood 
where  the  late  Mr.  William  Livingston,  since 
governor  of  New  Jersey,  resided,  and  who,  with 
several  other  lay  gentlemen,  were  among  the 
guests.  After  dinner,  in  the  course  of  an  easy 
and  pleasant  conversation,  Mr.  Whitefield  ad- 
verted to  the  difficulties  attending  the  gospel 
ministry,  arising  from  the  small  success  with 
which  their  labors  were  crowned.  He  greatly 
lamented,  that  all  their  zeal,  activity,  and  fer- 
vor availed  but  little ;  said  that  he  was  weary 
with  the  burdens  and  fatigues  of  the  day;  de- 
clared his  great  consolation  was,  that  in  a  short 
time  his  work  would  be  done,  when  he  should 
depart  and  be  with  Christ ;  that  the  prospect  of 
a  speedy  deliverance  had  supported  his  spirits, 
or  that  he  should,  before  now,  have  sunk  under 
his  labor.  He  then  appealed  to  the  ministers 
around  him,  if  it  were  not  their  great  comfort 
that  they  should  soon  go  to  rest.  They  gene- 
rally assented,  excepting  Mr.  Tennent,  who  sat 
next  to  Mr.  Whitefield,  in  silence ;  and,  by  his 
countenance,  discovered  but  little  pleasure  in 
the  conversation;  on  which  Mr.  Whitefield, 
turning  to  him,  and  tapping  him  on  the  knee, 
said,  "  Well,  brother  Tennent,  you  are  the  old- 
est man  among  us,  do  you  not  rejoice  to  think 

F 


66  IOE     OI     TBK5EIfT 


that  your  time  is  so  near  at  hand  when  you  will 
be  called  home,  and  freed  from  all  the  difficul- 
ties attending  this  chequered  scene  1"  Mr.  Ten- 
nent  bluntly  answered,  "  I  have  no  wish  about 
it."  Mr.  Whitefield  pressed  him  again;  and  Mr. 
Tennent  again  answered,  "  No,  sir,  it  is  no  plea- 
sure to  me  at  all,  and  if  you  knew  your  duty,  it 
would  be  none  to  you.  I  have  nothing  to  do  with 
death;  my  business  is  to  live  as  long  as  1  can- 
as  well  as  I  can— and  to  serve  my  Lord  and 
Master  as  faithfully  as  I  can,  until  he  shall  think 
proper  to  call  me  home."    Mr.  Whitefield  still 
urged  for  an  explicit  answer  to  his  question,  in 
case  the  time  of  death  were  left  to  his  own 
choice.  Mr.  Tennent  replied,  "  I  have  no  choice 
about  it;  I  am  God's  servant,  and  have  engaged 
to  do  his  business,  as  long  as  he  pleases  to  con- 
tinue me  therein.  But  now,  brother,  let  me  ask 
you  a  question.    What  do  you" think  I  would 
say,  if  I  was  to  send  my  man  Tom  into  the  field 
to  plough ;  and  if  at  noon  I  should  go  to  the 
field,  and  find  him  lounging  under  a  tree,  and 
complaining,  '  Master,  the  sun  is  very  hot,  and 
the  ploughing  hard  and  difficult;  I  am  tired  and 
weary  of  the  work  you  have  appointed  me,  and 
am  overdone  with  the  heat  and  burden  of  the 
day :  do,  master,  let  me  return  home,  and  be  dis- 


LIFEOFTENITEWT.  67 

charged  from  this  hard  service?'   What  would 
I  say?    Why,  that  he  was  an  idle,  lazy  fellow; 
that  it  was  his  business  to  do  the  work  that  I 
had  appointed  him,  until  I,  the  proper  judo-e 
should  think  fit  to  call  him  home.    Or,  suppose 
you  had  hired  a  man  to  serve  you  faithfully  for 
a  given  .time,  in  a  particular  service,  and  he 
should,  without  any  reason  on  your  part,  and 
before  he  had  performed  half  his  service,  be- 
come weary  of  it,  and  upon  every  occasion  be 
expressing-  a  wish  to  be  discharged,  or  placed  in 
other  circumstances,  would  you  not  call  him  a 
wicked  and  slothful  servant,  and  unworthy  the 
privileges  of  your  employ]"    The  mild,  plea- 
sant, and  christianlike  manner  in  which  this  re- 
proof was  administered,  rather  increased  the 
social  harmony  and  edifying  conversation  of  the 
company ;  who  be«gme  satisfied  that  it  was  very 
possible  to  err  even  in  desiring,  with  undue 
earnestness,  "to  depart  and  be  with  Christ," 
which,  in  itself,  is  "far  better"  than  to  remain 
in  this  imperfect  state;  and  that  it  is  the  duty 
of  the  christian,  in  this  respect,  to  say,  "All  the 
days  of  my  appointed  time  will  I  wait,  till  my 
change  come." 

Among  Mr.  Tennent's  qualifications,  none 
were  more  conspicuous  than  his  activity,  both 


68  I.IFE     OF     TEXITIKT. 

of  body  and  mind.  He  hated  and  despised  6loth. 
He  was  almost  always  in  action — never  wearied 
in  well-doing,  nor  in  serving  his  friends.  His 
integrity  and  independence  of  spirit  were  ob- 
servable on  the  slightest  acquaintance.  He  was 
so  great  a  lover  of  truth,  that  he  could  not  bear 
the  least  aberration  from  it,  even  in  a  joke.  He 
was  remarkable  for  his  candor  and  liberality  of 
sentiment,  with  regard  to  those  who  differed 
from  him  in  opinion.  His  hospitality  and  do- 
mestic enjoyments  were  even  proverbial.  His 
public  spirit  was  always  conspicuous,  and  his 
attachment  to  what  he  thought  the  best  inter- 
ests of  his  country,  was  ardent  and  inflexible. 
He  took  an  early  and  decided  part  with  his 
country  in  the  commencement  of  the  late  revo- 
lutionary war.  He  was  convinced  that  she  was 
oppressed,  and  that  her  petitions  to  the  sove- 
reign of  the  mother  country  were  constitutional, 
loyal,  moderate,  and  reasonable ;  that  the  treat- 
ment they  received  was  irrational,  tyrannical, 
and  intolerable.  As  he  made  it  a  rule,  however, 
never  to  carry  politics  into  the  pulpit,  he  had 
no  way  to  manifest  his  zeal  for  the  public  mea- 
sures, but  by  his  private  prayers,  and  by  his  de- 
cided opinions  delivered  in  private  conversa- 
tions.   But,  in  this  way,  his  sentiments  became 


IIJB     OF     TESNBKT.  69 

universally  known,  and  he  was  considered  as  a 
warm  friend  to  the  American  cause.  Notwith- 
standing these  political  opinions,  he  was  not 
blind  to  the  errors  of  his  countrymen,  and  espe- 
cially to  their  moral  and  religious  conduct.  The 
following  extract  from  a  letter  to  the  author 
of  these  sketches,  dated  February  14,  1775, 
strongly  marks  the  temper  of  his  mind.  "  My  ve- 
ry dear  sir,  Your  kind  letter  came  to  hand  three 
days  since.  Your  comforts  and  sorrows  are  mine 
in  no  small  degree ;  I  share  with  you  in  both ; 
the  tie  is  such  as  death  cannot  dissolve.  This 
is  a  day  of  darkness,  in  my  view,  and  few  are 
in  any  degree  properly  affected  with  it.  I  have, 
through  grace,  perhaps  as  little  to  fear  for  my- 
self, or  mine,  as  any  living.  I  humbly  hope  we 
are  housed  in  Jesus ;  but  I  am  distressed  for  the 
nation  and  land.  The  ruin  of  both  is  awfully 
threatened;  and,  though  now  deferred,  may  ere 
long  be  accomplished,  unless  reformation  takes 
place.  It  behoves  every  one  to  cry,  *  spare  thy 
people,  O  Lord,  and  give  not  thine  heritage  to 
reproach.'  I  know  God  is  merciful;  he  has,  not- 
withstanding, disinherited  a  people  as  dear  to 
him  as  ever  we  were,  whose  sins  were  not  more 
aggravated  than  ours.  The  Lord  can  deliver,* 
but  have  we  reason  to  think  he  will,  having 


70  XIFE     OF     TIKSIXT, 

told  us  that  he  will '  wound  the  head  of  his  en- 
emies, and  the  hairy  scalps  of  such  who  go  on 
in  their  trespasses'?'  Is  there  any  appearance  of 
reformation  ?  Yea,  is  it  not  the  reverse  ?  Are 
not  our  meetings,  for  the  preservation  of  our 
liberty,  often  abused  by  excessive  drinking, 
&c.  ?  Have  not  politics  taken  place  of  religion 
in  all  our  conversations  1  Is  it  not  beome  uncon- 
stitutional (to  use  the  vulgar  language)  to  men- 
tion God's  name  in  company,  unless  by  way  of 
dishonoring  him!  Are  not  things  sacred  ne- 
glected by  some,  and  burlesqued  by  others'?  Is 
not  the  newspaper  substituted  for  the  Bible  on 
Lord's  days — yea,  at  church  1  What  will  the 
end  of  these  things  be"?  Blessed  be  God,  through 
Jesus  Christ,  he  is  for  a  sanctuary." 

Mr.  Tennent  was  on  a  visit,  within  less  than 
twenty  miles  of  New  York,  when  a  British  fri- 
gate attempted  to  pass  the  batteries,  and  to  pro- 
ceed up  the  North  river,  while  General  Wash- 
ington lay  with  the  American  army  in  the  city. 
Avery  heavy  cannonading  took  place,  which  was 
mistaken  by  the  surrounding  country  for  a  gene- 
ral attack  on  our  army.  Mr.  Tennent  was  deeply 
affected,  and  after  a  violent  struggle  within 
himself,  he  turned  to  a  friend  or  two  present, 
and  said,  "  Come,  while  our  fellow  citizens  are 


I.IFE     OF     TENXEXT.  71 

righting,  let  us  retire  to  prayer."  They,  accord- 
ingly, went  up  into  his  room,  where  he  most 
devoutly  poured  out  his  soul  for  about  half  an 
hour,  in  the  most  fervent  prayers,  wrestling 
with  God  in  behalf  of  his  suffering-  country. 

In  the  winter  of  1776-7,  the  British  overran 
great  part  of  the  state  of  New  Jersey,  and  par- 
ticularly the  county  of  Monmouth,  where  a 
number  of  the  inhabitants  were  in  the  British 
interests.  Such  was  their  apparent  power,  and 
the  distressed  situation  of  the  American  army, 
retreating  before  them,  that  it  was  generally 
supposed  by  the  people  in  the  country,  that 
the  dispute  was  almost  at  an  end,  and  that  all 
hopes  of  successful  opposition  were  nearly  ex- 
tinguished. A  British  party  arose  in  the  county, 
who  seized  their  fellow  citizens,  and  dragged 
them  to  a  British  provost,  where  they  were 
treated  in  the  most  cruel  manner,  as  rebels  and 
traitors.  Even  citizens  from  other  parts  of  the 
state,  who  had  taken  refuge  in  the  county,  de- 
pending on  the  known  hospitality  of  the  inha- 
bitants, were  not  respected.  In  this  situation, 
Mr.  Tennent  very  justly  thought  himself  in 
great  danger ;  but  having  no  place  to  flee  to 
for  safety,  he  remained  at  home,  committing 
himself  to  the  protection  of  Almighty  God.  In 


72  LIFE     OF     TE»NE»T. 

the  month  of  December,  1776,  a  number  of  the 
inhabitants  came  to  his  house,  and  insisted  that 
he  should  go  to  Princeton  without  delay,  and 
take  the  benefit  of  General  Howe's  proclama- 
tion, offering  a  pardon  to  those  who  would  seek 
it  within  a  limited  time.    He  refused,  till  he 
found  himself  in  danger  of  being  taken  off  and 
committed  to  a  British  provost,  which  he  well 
knew  was  but  another  word  for  a  lingering 
death.    He  also  found  that,  in  his  present  state, 
his  usefulness  as  a  minister  of  the  gospel  was 
at  an  end,  unless  he  complied  with  the  wishes 
of  the  people,  most  of  the  whigs  of  influence 
having  fled.  Concluding  that  present  duty  en- 
forced the  request  which  was  thus  urged  upon 
him,  -he  promised  to  go  to  Princeton.     On  his 
way,  he  lodged  at  the  house  of  a  young  clergy- 
man, and  on  rising  in  the  morning,  he  seemed 
greatly  oppressed  in  spirit.    On  being  asked 
what  troubled  him,  he  answered,  with  a  heavy 
sigh,  "  I  am  going  to  do  a  thing  for  conscience 
sake,  directly  against  my  conscience."   Soon 
after  his  return  home,  to  the  surprise  of  every 
body,  the   British   quarters  at  Trenton  were 
beaten  up,  and  a  British  regiment  taken  at 
Princeton;  the  American  army  again  advanced 
and  took  a  strong  position  at  Morristown,  by 


1IFE     OP     TESNENT,  73 

which  the  British,  in  their  turn,  were  obliged 
to  retreat  and  contract  their  lines  to  Brunswick 
and  Am  boy.  The  Americans  again  got  posses- 
sion of  the  county  of  Monmouth,  where  the 
whigs  returned  in  force.  Mr.  Tennent's  mind 
was  greatly  oppressed  with  his  untoward  situ- 
ation, and  he  severely  blamed  his  untimely  sub- 
mission. 

About  the  latter  end  of  February,  or  begin- 
ning of  March,  1777,  Mr.  Tennent  was  sud- 
denly seized  with  a  fever,  attended  by  violent 
symptoms.    He  sent  for  his  family  physician, 
who  was  in  the  act  of  setting  off  for  the  legis- 
lature of  the  state,  of  which  he  was  a  member. 
He  called  on  his  patient  on  his  way,  but  could 
spend  but  a  few  minutes  with  him.    He,  how- 
ever, carefully  examined  into  Mr.  Tennent's 
complaints,  and  the  symptoms  attending  the 
disorder.    With  great  candor,  the  physician  in- 
formed his  patient,  that  the  attack  appeared  un- 
usually violent;  that  the  case  required  the  best 
medical  aid,  and  that  it  was  out  of  his  power  to 
attend  him.    He  feared  that,  at  his  advanced 
age,  there  was  not  strength  of  nature  sufficient 
to  overcome  so  severe  a  shock,  and  that  his 
symptoms  scarcely  admitted  of  a  favorable  prog- 
nostic.   The  good  old  man  received  this  news 

G 


74  LIFE     OF     TE5SEXT, 

with  his  usual  submission  to  the  divine  will; 
for,  as  he  had  always  considered  himself  as 
bound  for  eternity,  he  had  endeavored  so  to  live, 
that  when  the  summons  should  come,  he  would 
have  nothing  to  do  but  to  die.  He  calmly  re- 
plied, "  I  am  very  sensible  of  the  violence  of 
my  disorder,  that  it  has  racked  my  constitution 
to  an  uncommon  degree,  and  beyond  what  1 
have  ever  before  experienced,  and  that  it  is  ac- 
companied with  symptoms  of  approaching  disso- 
lution; but,  blessed  be  God,  I  have  no  wish  to 
live,  if  it  should  be  his  will  and  pleasure  to  call 
me  hence."  After  a  moment's  pause,  he  seemed 
to  recollect  himself,  and  varied  the  expression, 
thus:  "Blessed  be  God,  I  have  no  wish  to  live, 
if  it  should  be  his  will  and  pleasure  to  call  me 
hence,  unless  it  should  be  to  see  a  happy  issue 
to  the  severe  and  arduous  controversy  my  coun- 
try is  engaged  in ;  but,  even  in  this,  the  will  of 
the  Lord  be  done." 

During  his  whole  sickness,  he  continued  per- 
fectly resigned  to  the  divine  will,  until  death 
was  swallowed  up  in  victory,  on  the  8th  day  of 
March,  1777.  His  body  was  buried  in  his  own 
church,  at  Freehold;  a  numerous  concourse  of 
people,  composed  not  only  of  the  members  oJ 
his  own  congregation,  but  of  the  inhabitants  o; 


LIFE     OP     TENXEX;,  75 

the  whole  adjacent  country,  attending  his  fu- 
neral. 

Mr.  Tennent  was  rather  more  than  six  feet 
high ;  of  a  spare,  thin  visage,  and  of  an  erect 
carriage.  He  had  bright,  piercing  eyes,  a  long, 
sharp  nose,  and  a  long  face.  His  general  coun- 
tenance was  grave  and  solemn,  but  at  all  times 
cheerful  and  pleasant  with  his  friends.    It  may 
be  said  of  him,  with  peculiar  propriety,  that  he 
appeared,  in  an  extraordinary  manner,  to  live 
above  the  world,  and  all  its  allurements.    He 
seemed  habitually  to  have  such  clear  views  of 
spiritual  and  heavenly  things,  as  afforded  him 
much  of  the  foretaste  and  enjoyment  of  them. 
His  faith  was  really  and  experimentally  "  the 
substance  of  things  hoped  for,  and  the  evidence 
of  things  unseen."  Literally,  his  daily  walk  was 
with  God,  and  he  lived  "  as  seeing  him  who  is 
invisible."  The  divine  presence,  with  him,  was 
'frequently  manifested  in  his  public  ministra- 
tions, and  in  his  private  conduct.    His  ardent 
soul  was  seldom  satisfied,  unless  he  was  exert- 
ing himself  in  some  way  or  other,  in  public  or 
private,  in  rendering  kind  offices  and  effectual 
services  of  friendship,  both  in  spiritual  and  tem- 
poral things,  to  his  fellow  men.    Take  him  in 
his  whole  demeanor  and  conduct,  there  are  few 


76  HIE     01     TES3TENT. 

of  whom  it  might  more  emphatically  be  said, 
that  he  lived  the  life,  and  died  the  death  of  the 
righteous. 

He  was  well  read  in  divinity,  and  was  of  sound 
orthodox  principle.  He  professed  himself  a  mo- 
derate calvinist.  The  doctrines  of  man's  depravi- 
ty;  the  atonement  of  the  Savior;  the  absolute  ne- 
cessity of  the  all-powerful  influence  of  the  spirit 
of  God  to  renew  the  heart  and  subdue  the  will, 
all  in  perfect  consistence  with  the  free  agency 
of  the  sinner,  were  among  the  leading  articles 
of  his  faith.   These  doctrines,  indeed,  were  ge- 
nerally interwoven   in  his  public  discourses, 
whatever  might  be  the  particular  subject  dis- 
cussed.   His  success  was  often  answerable  to 
his  exertions.  His  people  loved  him  as  a  father 
—revered  him  as  the  pastor  and  bishop  of  their 
souls— obeyed  him  as  their  instructor,  and  de- 
lighted in  his  company  and  private  conversation 
as"  a  friend  and  brother.    He  carefully  avoided 
making  a  difference  between  his  doctrines  pub- 
licly taught  and  his  private  practice.  Attending 
a  synod,  a  few  years  before  his  death,  a  strange 
clergyman,  whom  he  had  never  before  seen,  was 
introduced  to  the  synod,  and  asked  to  preach 
in  the  evening.     Mr.  Tennent  attended,  and 
was  much  displeased  with  the  sermon.  As  the 


LIFE     OF     TESNEST.  77 

congregation  were  going  out  of  the  church, 
Mr.  Tennent,  in  the  crowd,  coming  up  to  the 
preacher,  touched  him  on  the  shoulder,  and 
said,  "  My  brother,  when  I  preach,  I  take  care 
to  save  myself,  whatever  I  do  with  my  congre- 
gation." The  clergyman  looked  behind  him 
with  surprise,  and,  seeing  a  very  grave  man, 
said,  "What  do  you  mean,  sir]"  Mr.  Tennent 
answered,  "  You  have  been  sending  your  whole 
congregation,  synod  and  all,  to  perdition,  and 
you  have  not  even  saved  yourself.  Whenever 
I  preach,  I  make  it  a  rule  to  save  myself,"  and 
then  abruptly  left  him,  without  his  knowing 
who  spoke  to  him. 

At  Mr.  Tennent's  death,  the  poor  mourned 
for  him  as  their  patron,  their  comforter,  and 
support;  and  the  rich  lamented  over  him  as 
their  departed  pastor  and  friend.  The  public, 
at  large,  lost  in  him  a  firm  assertor  of  the  civil 
and  religious  interests  of  his  country.  He  was 
truly  a  patriot,  not  in  words  and  pretences — 
not  in  condemning  all  who  differed  from  him  to 
proscription  and  death,  but  in  acting  in  such  a 
manner  as  would  have  rendered  his  country 
most  happy,  if  all  had  followed  his  example. 
He  insisted  on  his  own  rights  and  freedom  of 
sentiment,  but  he  was  willing  to  let  others  en- 


78  LITE     OF     TESKEST. 

joy  the  same  privilege ;  and  he  thought  it  of*  at 
much  importance  to  live  and  act  well,  as  to 
think  and  speak  justly.   - 

To  conclude  these  imperfect  sketches — may 
all  who  read  the  memoirs  of  this  amiable  and 
useful  man,  fervently  and  constantly  beseech 
that  God,  with  whom  is  the  residue  of  the  Spi- 
rit, that  their  life  may  be  that  of  the  righteous, 
so  that  their  latter  end  may  be  like  his :  and 
that  the  Great  Head  of  the  church,  while  He 
removes  faithful  and  distinguished  laborers  from 
the  gospel  vineyard,  may  raise  up  others,  who 
shall  possess  even  a  double  portion  of  their  spi- 
rit, and  who  shall  be  even  more  successful  in 
winning  souls  unto  Jesus  Christ,  the  great  bi- 
shop of  souls. 


FINIS 


aHKgSiw 


m 


h 
m 


,«««m*«« ««»••••■♦«»« *mt  ••••  ■ 


